The first meeting of Chris Beem’s spring seminar took place on Jan. 19, the day before the presidential inauguration. It seemed as good a time as any to kick off a class discussing the health and stability of global democracy.

Living in a college town, you tend to mark time by seasonal changes in the local population. Summer starts when the students leave in early May, and ends around the third week of August, when the students come back.

Patti McNally helped create a space for children defined by warmth, imagination, and joy. I'm lucky my kids were able to be a part of it.