Overheard

I have to make a confession: I've been sitting at Panera listening to a group of older men and women talking for about an hour and a half.  At first it was just two older gentlemen.  Now a few more men and a couple women have joined them.  Their conversation has been fascinating.  It started with politics and found that my political leanings are very similar to theirs...I wonder what that means.  Then the conversation between the two men moved to what money they are leaving for their children when they die.

Now, let me clarify, when I say older I don't mean as old as my grandparents.  This group appears to be in their mid to late 60s.  Definitely not an age group I would expect to be talking about wills and leaving money to kids.  I was shocked about the amount of money they were thinking about leaving.  Quarter of a million left in a trust vs the same amount left in monthly payments.  Ways to avoid paying the money to an ex-wife.  How their sons are stupid putzes; but how it's okay because they are still young.

At this point they've moved on to speaking about the hurricane and how they've never seen a storm like it before and the damage that has been done to the community.  They are having a serious conversation but it's clear they know each other very well.  Making jabs at one another and talking about each other's families.  They have copies of the local "Our Town" magazines from all the local towns.

I hope that one day I have a group of friends like them.  I hope that I have a group of people that I can sit with at a coffee shop each week and catch up about life, the town, the world, and talk about real stuff with.  I wonder where I'll be then...what I'll be like...who my friends will be....

Maybe I should sit here more often :)

Sandy

I've been through hurricanes in my life, having lived in Mississippi and Virginia.  I've even been through a hurricane as a rezlife staff member while I was at MWC, hurricane Isabel.  Isabel was a lot worse on campus at Mary Wash than it was here at Centenary...but the overall devastation wasn't as widespread or intense overall.  When I lived in Mississippi I was so young I don't remember what the aftermath was.

It's strange to watch the local news, which is from NYC, and see the absolute devastation.  My staff and students are faring well enough considering some of their homes were destroyed or that their neighborhoods are completely under water.  A lot of people here are just numb now from watching the news, almost like it was after September 11, 2001.  So much coverage.  You don't want to watch but you can't stop.  Even the people who aren't from the shore are very upset because that's where they all spent their summers growing up and now it's gone.  Being a person who doesn't have a "place" I can't imagine what that would be like.

I feel guilty for being exhausted.  I feel guilty for wanting to go back to "normal" (although being so new I don't know what that is yet).  I've been so lucky.  I have electricity and although my heat was out for a few days it's now back on.  I was able to shower.  I've had food.  I do feel blessed.  I couldn't have asked for a better outcome for the campus.  I still just feel like I need a few days to recover...