** Readers uninterested in my personal life, just go ahead and skip this post. Blogging about Arab politics will resume in about a week. **
Early Tuesday morning, I'll load two kids into an overstuffed car and drive out of Williamstown for the last time. But only after one final stop at my beloved Tunnel City Coffee, which my friend Ethan Zuckerman once accurately called the "social hub of Williamstown." When I think about what I'll miss about the place I've lived the last nine years, the coffeeshop comes near the top of the list (in Williamstown, saying "the coffeeshop" is quite enough - there's really only the one). The owners Paul and Bar used to be my next door neighbors, and over the years I have spent an ungodly amount of time (and money) there. The staff know and love my kids, know exactly how my daughter wants her bagel (poppy with cream cheese) and her hot cocoa (lots of whipped cream) and when my son started walking. On a random weekend day with nothing much to do, I would almost always just head down to the coffeeshop with the kids - it was a safe bet that some of our friends would be there. If not, it was a short walk to Linear Park ("the buckets" - a once dilapitated old park in a beautiful location which my wife, in an exemplary bit of civic activism, shamed the town into refurbishing.) I'll miss that, and the whole sense of warm community which makes this place special - how wonderful is it that when we took our kids to their favorite restaurant Isabella's for dinner last night, the owners knew we were leaving and had little goodbye presents for them?
I'll miss even more the incredible group of kids right around my daughter's age, kids she's known her whole life - Oscar (and Caleb), Ellie (and August), Johnny (and Jane), Miriam (and Jude), Catherine, Ruth, Hazel, Olivia, Clara and Charlie and little Lucy, Leo, Ella, Nell, and so many more (if I forgot anyone, please don't hate me). They've grown up together, gone to school together, taken ballet classes and music classes together, and given each other more colds and flus than I care to remember. Nothing will be harder for us than helping my daughter adjust to a world in which her friends aren't always around. I know she'll make new friends and discover all kinds of incredible new things in DC, but right now it feels hard.
What else? I'll certainly miss the incredible students at Williams, and the teaching-centric culture which brings out the best in many of us. The political science department has its share of craziness - more than its share, if you ask most people - but it has been a home for nine years, and a good one. I'll consider myself truly blessed if I'm ever lucky enought to have another colleague as dedicated to his students, his scholarship, the intellectual life of campus, and walks to the coffeeshop as James McAllister; as encyclopedically versed in the finer points of professional athletics and departmental politics as Mike MacDonald; as jovially supportive of his colleagues and as spiritually impressive as Sam Crane; as helpfully addicted to Lost as Darel Paul; as intellectually engaged with everything around him as Mark Reinhardt. But at least I know that I'll see most of them at APSA, at least, so even though I'll miss the loud arguments about politics and sports on the G-level tier those friendships won't end.
Finally, leaving Williamstown makes me think about those I came to know here who are truly gone. Shirin Shakir, the bright and engaging young woman who died in a tragic boating accident just before finishing Harvard Law. Nate Krissoff, the dedicated and passionate young man who died a hero, serving his country in Iraq. Tim Cook, a friend and professional mentor taken by cancer far too young. Two cats, Bellissimo and Tigger, whose spirits will always be sleeping in window screens gazing out at soft summer Berkshire days. God preserve their souls.
But that's enough reflection on the past - we are incredibly excited about the future. A weekend of barbeques, Riverfests, and Memorial Day parades lies before us, and then a new life in Washington DC. Zoos! Museums! Parks! Carousels! Gyms! More than three restaurants, some of which even deliver! Think tanks! (Ok, that last one might appeal more to me than to the rest of the family, so I'll just stop now.) We're ready now. Goodbye, Williamstown!
Marc, I'll talk to Paul about retiring a table for you at Tunnel City. Would you prefer that we paint your name on it and hang it from the rafters, or just a discreet plaque over the power outlet?
Best of luck with the move, the new position and all the excitement of DC life. You will be sorely missed.
Posted by: EthanZ | May 26, 2007 at 06:11 PM
Williamstown's loss is DC's gain. Welcome!
Posted by: Abu Muqawama | May 26, 2007 at 08:36 PM
Sounds like a great place. I hope they decide to replace you with a historian rather than another political scientist =)
Posted by: Brian Ulrich | May 27, 2007 at 04:53 AM
Hi. My name is Eugene Gershin. I'd like to welcome you to Obadiah Shoher's blog, Samson Blinded: A Machiavellian Perspective on the Middle East Conflict.
Obadiah is a pen name of a politician. He writes extremely controversial articles about Israel, the Middle East politics, and terrorism.
Obadiah advocates political rationalism instead of moralizing. He is economic liberal and political conservative.
Google refused advertising our site and Amazon deleted reviews of Obadiah's book. Nevertheless, Obadiah’s is the largest Jewish personal blog, read by more than 100,000 people monthly. 210,000 people from 81 countries downloaded Obadiah’s book. The blog was voted the best overall in People’s Choice: Jewish and Israeli blogs Awards, received Webby Honoree and other awards.
Please help us spread Obadiah's message, and mention the blog in one of your posts, or link to us. We would greatly appreciate your comments at www.samsonblinded.org/blog
Best wishes,
Eugene Gershin
Jewrusalem.net – Israeli Uncensored News
Posted by: Eugene | May 27, 2007 at 07:30 PM
Fare-thee-well and safe travels! We'll miss you around these parts.
Posted by: Rachel | May 28, 2007 at 02:01 PM
As one of the inaugural MES students at GWU this fall, I can guess I can say "Welcome to DC!"
Posted by: Angela Simaan | May 29, 2007 at 02:32 PM
Boy, the crazy in the comment above is incredible. Definitely not someone I'd want to run into in a dark alley.
Anyway, welcome to D.C., I very much hope you'll enjoy your stay here, and keep blogging - reading this has proved very informative about what's going on in the middle east.
Posted by: Benjamin Bentley | May 30, 2007 at 09:47 AM
Nawwaret DC ya Abu Aardvark :) I hope to run into you soon!
p.s. you forgot another thing to be excited about: Metro! I'm sure it will be your new best friend within no time.
Posted by: moi | May 30, 2007 at 10:49 PM
Good grief.
Best wishes. A former grad student friend is still teaching biology at George Washington. Considering all the stuff that seems to be located at Dupont Circle, you'd think GWU, the thinktanks, restaurants, hospital and whatnot were stacked up like the monster new doubleheaded building at New York's Columbus Circle or perhaps a Palestinian "camp" in Lebanon--they must be rather like the Walled City of Kowloon.
After almost 40 years, I still kick myself periodically for not making enough effort to locate a liberal arts college that would admit me. Having not made a couple of schools, I doubt that Williams would have been any more interested. Possibly something about being an obvious Air Force brat in 1968.
Then again, an Amherst, Mass. friend's daughter scandalized her high school by going to the University of Texas at Austin. She thrived.
Posted by: Dave Martin | June 01, 2007 at 01:19 AM
We, the brainless clones of DC salute you and welcome you to our think tanks! (Brainless clones being a reference to the logorrheic 5/29 11:18pm post by "Baseball...", which I think you're entitled to delete.)
Posted by: Thomas Nephew | June 03, 2007 at 01:17 PM
Wow... I'm just back online (barely) after a week without internet access. Can't get to everything, but crazy guy up there has to go...
... done. Another great conspiracy protected from those who would reveal its true nature...
Posted by: aardvark | June 03, 2007 at 01:19 PM
Marc:
Once you get into town -- Washington -- give me a call or email me and I'll take you to some of our favorite coffee shops, including Tryst in Adams Morgan. My partner Kimberly has worked in the coffee business as a fair trade advocate for years, so she will have plenty of suggestions as to where you can go for good coffee and social benefit to boot. Being from Seattle where wonderful coffee shops dot the landscape, I know how important they can be to one's life. They offer exactly what you describe: community and friends. I must admit that it is more challenging to find that same sense of place here, but I suspect you and your family will find it. I know how much your new friends and colleagues at GW are eager to help. Give us a call just as soon as you have a chance.
Best Regards,
Steve Livingston, Bob Entman, Sean Aday, and many others in the School of Media and Public Affairs at GW
Posted by: Steven Livingston | June 05, 2007 at 01:11 PM
Do you have your e-mail address posted on your blog?
Posted by: Melissa from cbsnews.com | June 05, 2007 at 04:20 PM