r.r. was a student of mine during my last semester teaching at UT. she was one of those students who always had questions and something to say, so she would come to my office hours almost every week. her ardor was something i had missed after leaving oberlin, and every time she would apologize for "bugging" me, i would just reply that i was happy to talk. she worked long and hard on her final piece for me in the class. at times, i grew nervous of what she was working towards and i would tell her so. finally she created cardboard sculptures of a newsstand and a dumpster with "graffiti" on the sides. i was very impressed. i solicited addresses from my students in that class so i could send them pieces. r.r. was eager to give me hers. i had to keep thinking of what i would send r.r. i saw her a couple times after i began this piece and she said, "kt, i keep opening my mailbox and not finding your piece!" somehow this statement inspired me to write about just that. i think r.r. will be graduating this weekend. i truly wish her the best.