Monday Morning Musings

Posted on September 28, 2020 under Monday Morning Musings with no comments yet

 

Akulavik

 

Much ado about nothing.

I’m not sure what was more challenging this past week -returning to teach school after an extended Covid break or walking 42.2 kilometers last Saturday with two of my colleagues. One was mentally and physically demanding. Make that two. Teaching requires physical endurance but it’s mostly the mental part that can be draining. Walking a marathon is mostly physical but near the end of the walk, it is the mental part that carries you across the finish line.

I’m still of the opinion that if you are lucky enough to have good health at my age, that doing something meaningful, that pushes you a bit, is not the worst thing in the world.

I don’t like to dwell on the negative, but life can be very cruel. In recent weeks I know of a few situations that have been devastating to the individuals involved. There was loss of life and loss of love. It’s impossible to compare the two. There is no comparison between love lost and the loss of life. They both produce grief. The grieving process is painful. Sometimes it is extremely difficult to see the sunshine when the clouds are so dark.

“You can check-out any time you like,

But you can never leave.”

Hotel California – The Eagles

If all goes as planned, I will be moving into the Kangiqsujuaq Hotel tomorrow. “Len. You’ve been teaching all of three days and you already need a vacation?” Not exactly. My long- suffering readers will recall that I spent the month of August in my apartment complex while three of the apartments underwent a major facelift. None of the occupants were in their apartments at the time. My turn has arrived and it would be impossible for me to occupy my pad while they rip up all the floors, and also completely re-do my bathroom. I expect to be in the hotel for at least a week. It’s a nice spot. My only concern is that I will be sharing kitchen facilities, dining and living spaces with many other people including workers from the south. I will need to go into full Covid defense mode and wear a mask at all times with the exception of my hotel room. It is another minor inconvenience. The good news is that I will have a virtually new apartment when the work is completed.

Halloween should be quite a spectacle this year. The choice of masks should be pretty simple, wouldn’t you think?! I’m not sure what the village is planning but “trick or treating” across Canada will be very different this year.

We have already had a bit of snow which is hardly surprising. Puts a person in the Christmas spirit. Did I actually say that? I’m not sure what’s going to happen to Santa with the various quarantine restrictions still in place in some provinces. I have already mentally prepared myself for not making it back to Nova Scotia for the holiday season. If the current self-isolation rules are in effect in N.S. in December, it becomes a moot point. Many of my colleagues are talking about spending Christmas here in the village which could be a great experience. Things are not the best in Quebec right now with Covid so it’s impossible to tell what things will be like in a few months’ time.

There you go. Six hundred words with barely a coherent thought… my specialty!

Have a great week.

P.S. I can hardly wait to see the expression on our postmaster’s face when he sees a small deluge of mail coming to me. Don’t know what I’m talking about? Read last Thursday’s post: https://www.week45.com/thursday-tidbits-244/