The upside down and backwards is what I'm colligating this morning, as yesterday was upside down and backwards, too. I'm used to chaotic days and frantic drives to make sense of the nonsensical, but Thursday was more than I could process or handle. Work in higher education is bizarre to say the least and all the positioning, dog-eat-dog, peer-reviewing is traumatizing at times. Yet, it is the work that is called for and one must adapt to in order to survive.
When I finally got home late last night, a package was at the front door. Many of my friends have lost loved ones, both young and old, in Kentucky, Connecticut, and amongst childhood friends. I thought it might be smart to have cards on hand to share my sadness and to show love so made the order a while ago. They came last night. I'm not sure if this is perverse or proactive. Sick or caring. My colleague, Beth, said, "maybe it's a sign you need to have sympathy for yourself, too...God's way of saying I'm delivering the cards on a day when you wanted to throw in the towel. Maybe he's looking after you."
I'm not sure about that, but I have them now to send, so I don't have to rely on 21st century messages, emails, or texts...the ol' snail mail routine.
This morning, I'm working with 100 8th graders for the MLK Youth Leadership Academy...a tradition that is well over a decade old at this point. I'm using my time with kids to rejuvenate parts of the soul torn by the ways higher education sometimes operates...to heal.
It's a TGIF moment, indeed. I'm very thankful there's a Saturday and Sunday ahead to process.
