I’ll Pick a Dive Mask over a Surgical Mask, Any Day!
Stan Birch ‘22
News Editor
My first thought as I slip below the crystal-blue water is usually one of serenity and peace; this time I thought: “I hope that turtle washed his hands for the CDC recommended twenty-second minimum.” The open bob of the ocean was a welcome break from the stress of classes, journal tryouts, and all the other activities 1Ls sign up for. In a frantic few days, two things had changed that required my immediate attention: I now had three additional days of vacation, and I was expected to move back in with my parents. Reader, I’m going to ignore the latter issue and focus on the benefits of additional days on a sunny island without a confirmed case of COVID-19, but quite a few cheap bottles of Corona with lime.
Pictured: Stan Birch ‘22, soaking in the sunshine after he swam with Dory.
In this trip below the waves I encountered several turtles, a shoal of squid, and even a few stingrays that tried to hide under the sand thirty feet below. As I skirted the sandy bottom, another aquatic predator approached, startling the stingray but intriguing me. This mid-sized nurse shark tolerated my presence and allowed me to follow behind. Freediving makes less noise to startle your aquatic neighbors, but can also bring some unwanted attention. This wouldn’t be the last time we saw each other this week.
I had fixed my GoPro[1] the next morning, so as I slipped below the water, anything novel I encountered was documented. As I started my ascent up the wall, a familiar tail flicked over the edge as my many-toothed pal waited for me above. After grabbing a deep breath of air, I rejoined my friend and our slow pursuit of each other picked right back up.[2] A few close passes of one another were enough to confirm neither of us should be afraid of the other.[3] After some time, we were both tired, and I called it a day for snorkeling. I got excited about the next morning, waddling along the beach, in a full wetsuit, with sixty-five pounds of gear perched on my back. Either it’s exciting enough or a full scuba rig feels light in comparison to Con Law and Property textbooks piled into my backpack. Again, reader, I will ignore that pessimistic latter and focus on the positive.
Now there was plenty more to my vacation than what happened in the ocean, but all of that is what I hope every student experienced over break: sleep, good food, good drink (if you participate), and time with people who make you happy. We’ve got a long road ahead of us, but if we’re all lucky, that road may just take us to the beach from time to time.
3L Spring Break Test
Lena Welch ‘20
Teen Romance Editor
This year I finally did something I’ve wanted to do at UVA Law: Alternative Spring Break (ASB). Organized by the incredible Miranda Russell ’20, PILA offers ASB to students interested in performing pro bono work over spring break. I volunteered at Southeast Louisiana Legal Services in New Orleans, but ASB wasn’t the only great thing to happen over the break.
On Saturday, March 7, after two of my best friends took me to get pretzel croissants from Petite Marie Bette and see Onward, I reported to FlyDog Yoga to teach my aerial yoga class, where I ran into Molly Cain ’20. Molly made the mistake of mentioning that Erin Seagears ’20 had tried to convince her to join us in New Orleans. Obviously, I agreed with Erin. With the idea fresh in her head and an hour and fifteen minutes to think about it, Molly came to the conclusion that she would hop in the car before sunrise Sunday for the drive down.
So, Sunday morning (and my twenty-seventh birthday, nbd) rolled around. Erin picked us up outside the Pavilion, and we went to pick up Nate Kresh ’22, who had no idea what he was in for. We hit the road after Erin shared the car rules: 1) honesty car, 2) if someone is driving, someone else has to stay awake, and 3) have fun. After a few hours of chitchat, we moved to rule three with a singalong featuring many a showtune, at which point Nate realized the drive was not going to be painless.
We stopped in Knoxville, Tennessee, for lunch. More importantly, Erin’s Prius, our chariot, suffered at the hands of the nice weather. We used Command hooks and duct tape to prop its window in place, and miraculously, it lasted for the rest of the trip.
Pictured: True teamwork. Molly Cain ‘20, props up the car window with Command Hooks while Lena Welch ‘20 clamps it into place.
After lunch, I put on a song from Hercules, and Nate started singing along. It was a big deal. Shortly after that, I played A Goofy Movie (because I always have this classic downloaded—you never know when you’ll need it). Anyway, this was a formative moment in my friendship with Nate. And I can’t quote what I said because it was weird as heck, but I’ve told approximately twenty friends from school, so find one of them and they’ll tell you.
Spending sixteen or so hours in a car may not sound like a fun way to spend your birthday, but it was an unforgettable day. It set the tone for an enjoyable trip with seriously special people, delicious food (including beignets), and exciting pro bono work. I highly recommend doing ASB, and, if possible, do a road trip with two of your best friends and the funniest person you can find.
Wait, There was a Break?
Michael Berdan ‘21
Staff Editor
During spring break, I finally watched Avengers: Infinity War. I popped some popcorn, snuggled up on the couch with my wife, turned on our big screen, and tested out our new surround sound system. Just kidding, I watched it on my phone, forty-five minutes a night, listening through one earbud, squeezed onto the edge of the bed next to my perpendicular-sleeping three-year-old son. This is how I watch most movies and shows now. So, this is how I watched as one exasperatingly stupid hero after another basically handed apocalyptic power to the villain. Right at the climax, my son silently woke up and ROARED at full voice into my ear (he’s a big Mufasa guy). I took that as a signal to go to sleep.
But at least we did get away for a few days, taking a road trip out to Virginia Beach and renting an Airbnb. Just kidding, I don’t have a summer job yet, I’m supporting a family of four on roughly zero dollars per month in income, and I really would prefer not to bring the Coronavirus home to my elderly mother, who lives downstairs. So we stayed home.
But I was healthy and I got a lot of work done! Nope, I caught some other cold virus, likely through my son’s preschool, so I used what energy I had cleaning the house, doing odd tasks, and assisting the best I could with my kids so that my wife felt at least somewhat supported. Now the kids seem to be coming down with it, sniffling throughout the house.
We’ll get through. My son just approached me with a Samoa cookie, coughed into the hand in which it was held, and handed it to me. “No thanks,” I told him. “I already had one (three).” “You have to,” he said. “It’s for you.” So I quarantined it in my stomach, and washed my hands.
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