Life, movies and all that

I’m gradually reentering my real life after coming home from that long vacation trip. Today after a haircut from Mitch the Wizard of Color and Cut, I went downtown to the City office building – for the first time since I retired. To a retirement party, and then upstairs to see some former colleagues.

It was huge fun to visit with them. I felt not a twinge of regret to no longer hold that building access badge, and therefore to have to go through the security scanner as a member of the public. Not even a sadness to no longer be on the inside. I am moving forward.  I will not turn back.

Finally, I went to a bargain matinée movie: Waitress. Which I selected based only on the small ad, knowing nothing more about it. After all, I’ve missed at least four consecutive Fridays reading our local newspapers’ movie reviews. Great pick, if I say so myself. A little gem with romance, comedy and fresh true characters. Marvelous cast, impeccable performances.

At home afterward, I researched the movie online before writing this blog entry. I was stunned to learn that Adrienne Shelly, who wrote and directed the film and acted in a supporting role, was murdered on November 1, 2006. She was 40 years old and survived by her husband and young child. A tragic waste of a life, a horrible loss for a family.

I didn’t need or want this reminder that we have to grab life while we have it, that we are not promised tomorrow.

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Home again

I’m home again after a 25-day vacation trip to Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. Going on this trip was the second best thing I’ve done this year, among those things appropriate for public mention. (Number one on the list, of course: retiring from that job.)

Reentry is taking longer than expected, complicated by either a bad case of seasonal allergies or the beginning of a cold. I don’t have the time right now, or the energy, to say much more here. In the meantime, you can always visit the links to the right, or The Chalkboard Manifesto:

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Traveling

I’m not here.

That makes no sense.

Let’s try again: I’m here and not there.

“There” means home, “here” means somewhere very far from home. I’m about ten days into a 26 day vacation trip, involving much going and seeing and doing – and altogether too much eating I think – and very little time on the Internet.

I’ve been reading, on this trip, Alice Steinbach’s memoir Without Reservations. I recommend it without reservations.

See you all later.

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