Flowers in California

Flowers in California

Monday, November 29, 2010

Reunion - High School, My School

I went to the Open House portion of my High School's 50th anniversary celebration. And I'm glad that I did. Woo hoo!

The Open House was not that exciting. My son got to see my old school. I think I found myself in one picture. We met up as planned with my friend Patty and we ran into a few other friends. I talked to one teacher who had no idea who I was. And we left.

The good thing about this event is that now my high school experience has ended on my terms. I went back, I didn't feel much of anything for the school and I left as an adult. I no longer walk in the shadow of a guy (one in particular) not worth my time, hoping for a future with him that didn't happen. The guys at school weren't worth as much of my attention as they received. My friends deserved more. I deserved more. And I know that now.

Happy 50th Anniversary to VP! And thanks for a nice open house.

JAHD

Monday, November 22, 2010

The Phone

Perhaps the phone never was the best means of communication.


Sure, I like the phone. One night this year I talked to my brother (who often goes by the name of Anonymous) for over 4 hours on it. It can be a good way to connect. And it is a good way to relay information quickly. But I can be rather shy when it comes to using the phone and I don't mind that there are a number of other means of communication now that we can use in place of the phone.


Perhaps things started off badly for me with the phone when one of the first calls I made was to a wrong number. That shook me up. But it's not just that. When you phone someone, you don't know if they or someone else will answer, if they're busy or want to talk. I think that call display is useful in that you know when someone who has it answers, they do want to talk to you at least briefly. On the phone though, you must come up with responses quickly. There's little time to reflect. If you are at all nervous anyways about who you're talking to, these factors can make things worse.

I like texting. I like messages of various kinds on Facebook. And the method of communication I like best of all is face to face. I like sitting down with someone and really listening and really talking. I can see a person's body language, their expression, what they're wearing. I can get more information from these things than I can from a voice on the phone.

I will keep calling and I will keep answering but I will not be sad that the phone is not as popular as it once was.

JAHD

I Wish I Knew that I Belonged Here

I still don't know. I've lived here for 16 years and I still don't know that this city is home. I have incredibly wonderful friends here. I am so blessed to have them. Less importantly, but very handy, there is a great set-up where I live - walking distance to many, many first rate shopping, recreation and library facilities. This is not where I grew up though and it never will be.

I was back home just over a week ago. I love flying to it and getting closer and closer. It's not just the city - it's the region. It's Toronto. It's the GTA. It's southern Ontario. It's home.

So, what do I do? The rest of my family (husband and son) are at least semi-interested in moving too. It would be great for my parents. I would be surrounded by so much more of what I love there. There are so many potential country drives to historically interesting towns, there are lakes, there are more jobs in areas of interest to me and there is Bloor Street on a busy Friday night. I even love that. It's my city.

I don't know. I do not know but the city from which I moved in my younger days is calling me and it might be expecting an answer soon. I can't pretend that I don't hear that call.

JAHD