Her mama put baby Iliana in my lap this morning. She looked at me, her little chin crinkled up, her lip trembled, and in moments she was howling with tears running down her cheeks. So that’s how my week is going.

It could get worse. Today begins my week of meetings and appointments and duties in the run-up to the first day of classes, next Wednesday. I’m expecting to walk into classes and see the Iliana Reaction on the faces of all of my students now.