Fall semester. Nothing is quite so exciting. On the one hand we faculty gripe about summer being too short – sound familiar? – and particularly about not getting nearly as much work done as we had planned. On the other hand, it is so energizing to see old students again, to meet new ones, to embark on new courses. And all while the weather cools and the leaves are poised to change. (I am a bit of a fall colors nut, and Maryland, particularly in the west, becomes quite beautiful in the fall. Check out the Foliage Network for reports on the progress of the leaves: http://www.foliagenetwork.com.) We in Classics at Loyola launch each fall semester with our freshman dinner. We take freshmen who have expressed an interest in Classics out to dinner at the Helmand restaurant – great Afghan food – so that we can all get to know each other a bit. We had an exceptionally large and lively group this year. I’m teaching the History of Christmas and third-semester Latin this fall. So far so good. More soon.