Leo is on his way to my house, with sister, Vivi, and their mamma. We will play in the garden all morning, and his 4-year-old-Self, along with my 63-year-old-Self, will delight in games of hide-n-seek, stories to read, and adventures with The Tuesday Morning Friends. (see above photos)
And so life under a pandemic’s terms continues. I have always cherished these playdates, but this spring and summer, they have become a primary event of each week. Life simplifies. What was I doing before that was so important? Seeing friends, meeting up with students, being social. Writing. Preparing for OSU classes. Life is quieter now.
With the exception of weekly jaunts to the farm, travel stopped. A godson’s graduation, a visit to my sister, a trip out west, gone. My OSU teaching contract has not renewed due to the pandemic’s financial toll on the university. Much has been lost.
Gained? Peace. Ease. At yesterday’s Alexander Technique Online class, I found my pace and speech slowing as I directed the participants through an Inhibition practice. A colleague responded, ‘The timing was just right. It gave us the time we needed.’
Playdate Postscript: Leo and I were trying to figure out how long it had been since the dinosaurs were last given their baths. We couldn’t decide, until Leo said, ‘It was a hundred whiles ago.’ Yes. That.
Wishing for you ‘a hundred whiles’; all the time you need and more. Riches of the best kind—–
I needed that story. So much seems to be a hundred whiles ago. We all should be so lucky to have a play date with a 4-year-old.
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Leo is a treasure. I agree, it is great good fortune to immerse myself in his world once a week—
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Beautiful, but sad about OSU – I know you enjoyed it so.
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Best teaching gig, ever! There’s a remote possibility the budget will allow for adjunct-taught courses, but it’s a big question mark at the moment, and unlikely—-
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