I Grew Upwards Inwards 1 Of The Small-Scale Trolley Suburbs Exterior Philadelphia

Meet Bill Ziegler – Associate Professor - English

Where did you lot grow up? If non Richmond, how long induce got you lot lived here, in addition to what brought you lot here?
I grew upward inwards 1 of the pocket-size trolley suburbs exterior Philadelphia. I’ve lived inwards Virginia for 32 years in addition to inwards Fredericksburg since 1990, in addition to I began instruction at Reynolds inwards 1993. Through it all, I induce got striven to hold my hometown credentials: distinctive vowels in addition to a oftentimes thankless devotion to the Phillies.

You play the cello. When did you lot start playing? How did you lot create upward one's hear on the cello? And, finally, produce you lot play other instruments?
I began playing the cello every bit a 6th grader, mainly inwards some promise of making the sort of music I bask listening to. Cello was an slow choice; it has attain in addition to expressiveness unsurpassed past times whatsoever other musical instrument when it’s played well. After college I left it lone for to a greater extent than than thirty years, only I resumed taking lessons almost vii years ago. It’s difficult to listing all the rewards: novel connections in addition to insights into the music I honey hearing; appreciation for the dedication it takes to master copy a skill; discovering the talents of colleagues; outlets for emotional expression. Sometimes music says what non fifty-fifty linguistic communication can.

You are quite knowledgeable almost the Reynolds grounds. What got you lot interested inwards the environment?
Growing upward close a city, nosotros rarely saw to a greater extent than than squirrels in addition to mutual songbirds, in addition to then I’ve loved having a dwelling draw of piece of occupation solid in addition to a workplace where I tin uncovering creatures I used to encounter alone inwards illustrations. It’s encouraging that fifty-fifty inwards relatively developed areas nosotros tin nevertheless uncovering wild things, from raptors to reptiles. Digital cameras allow me induce got lots of photos without the expense of film, in addition to I began showing them off inwards emails in addition to social media every bit a means to say, “Isn’t it amazing what nosotros induce got living around us,” hoping that others volition portion the appreciation in addition to save the multifariousness of living creatures. Especially the snakes. They generally hear their ain concern in addition to larn no consideration.

You are getting create to retire from Reynolds afterwards 25 years, 3 months, 2 (or three) weeks, in addition to and then many hours. What are you lot planning to produce next?
As far every bit I’m concerned, “planning to do” in addition to “retirement” are mutually contradictory concepts. I haven’t idea past times trying to figure how we’ll deed vii or to a greater extent than geriatric cats to our novel home.

What produce you lot recommend for summertime reading for the Reynolds community in addition to why? 
Recommended reading: For leisure, my get-go pick is the mystery genre, specially serial past times British writers. But I too read—and highly value, given times every bit they are—investigative journalism inwards periodicals such every bit Harper’s, The Atlantic, in addition to Mother Jones.

Everyone is asked the “lottery question.” If you lot won the Mega Millions jackpot in addition to had unlimited funds what would you lot produce first?
I avoid big-prize lotteries. I desire to avoid the slightest jeopardy of taking responsibleness for large sums of money. (A career inwards the humanities has too minimized that risk).