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Let’s explore the aspect of grieving in our society. 

With COVID, funerals are now restricted.  So much so that larger in-person funerals (in our section of the world) have been blamed for causing COVID infections.  We try to include live stream video – that’s helpful but not as intimate as we may desire.

The societal need for intimacy has eroded over the last decades.  This phenomenon is pushed forward by a lack of intertwined relationships.  Then COVID arrives (including the global communication and hype). 

Now we have a valid excuse.  We do not need to pretend to have relationship with those who die or are disabled or are otherwise on the outer edges of our existence.

We no longer need to grieve – to explore the relationship or to openly miss the person.  We go on in our life as if nothing has happened.

And we notice something is missing.  Manifested in mental health issues, and physical discomfort, and in spiritual longing.

When grieving dies, so do we.

I took my cell phone with me.

Not my laptop.  With all the right apps and programs.

Just my cell phone.

The vacation time was great.  Mostly helping the kids fix up a house and yard.  Things I enjoy.  Blogging that daily experience would have been great.

But I just took my cell phone.

And my fingers find the touch screen – OK, sometimes they find the touch screen.  Sometimes they miss the right letters.  Sometimes the auto correct is incorrect. 

So I don’t write extended blogs or thoughts.

But now, I’m back.

Again.

When you find someone across the world . . .

That was my experience today.  I opened up an email account and saw a discussion thread.  There in the thread was the name of a fellow student from years ago (actually he was a few years ahead of me, but I still know who he is).  He is living in Micronesia.  I expect I will contact him in the next few weeks.

The discussion thread was on library related issues.  Because . . .

One of my “new year” things is being the supervising librarian at Eston College in Eston, Saskatchewan.

So far we are on the COVID track of doing things, I’m donating some of my books, and I’m having fun with a new faculty who are young thinkers and doers.  The job is really just part-part-time, but I’m sure I’ll fill in more time than what is “required”.  Eston is just 40 minutes down the road – a nice drive with beautiful prairies landscapes.

Daily life as life goes on!

September 1st has been an unofficial new year for many years.

This has been what we called the academic year.  The time to begin anew your learning activities.

Of course, in an agricultural setting, the new year is postponed until harvest is done – usually into October in our part of the world.

Down under, the year is topsy-turvy.  This is winter expiring not winter approaching.

Bringing me back to the new year.

The date is inconsequential.  Any day can be a new start.  And sometimes new starts are just what we need.

September 1st starts a number of new things for me.

(Exit stage right – keep them hanging!!!)