Fall Equinox

Last Saturday I was rushing around to get my list of errands done so I could rush home and start my list of home projects for that day.  As I was leaving the grocery store the young man who picks up the carts from the parking lot followed me to my car to get my cart.  Now this young man is intellectually challenged yet he takes great pride in his job.  When he is at work the parking lot is always free of carts and he takes a few minutes to chat with guests.  He loves sports and is very knowledgeable about what is happening with our local professional football team. 

As we were talking he mentioned that the first day of fall was coming.  I asked him when it was arriving because I had forgotten the exact date.  He said at 10:40 AM on that day.  I looked at my watch and it was exactly 10:40 AM on Saturday September 21, 2012.  I said it is now the first day of fall.  He responded with "Summer's over!" 

We both took a few seconds to celebrate the passing of summer and the arrival of a new season.  If I would not have taken a minute to talk to him and enter his world I would have missed that event.  Fall is my favorite time of year even though it is followed by winter. 

It seems that in our busy, busy days we do not take enough time to celebrate the small moments, such as the moment when we move from one season to another.  I am very grateful to this young man who shared his wisdom with me on a Saturday morning in the parking lot of the grocery store.  Instead of hastily throwing my groceries into the trunk of my car and moving on to the next item on my list I took a few moments to take a breath and realize that a new season was starting. 

So as you begin a new week take some time and look up from your smart phones and iPads.  Connect with someone who touches your life in an everyday occurrence.  You may have an experience where you gather some new wisdom, enjoy a moment in passing or your entire paradigm shifts to the positive. 

Those few minutes with that young man made my entire weekend much more enjoyable.  I am grateful to him for sharing them with me. 

Perestroika and Glasnost

You are probably thinking what do two Russian terms that were made famous by Mikhail Gorbachev in the mid - 1980's have to do with anything?  Perestroika was used for market reforms and restructuring the economy.  Glasnost is democratic reforms, more freedoms and open elections. 

Currently my husband and I are hosting a young Russian hockey player who is living with us for several months while he plays hockey in the United States.  He came to this country knowing very little English.  My husband and I know no Russian. 

Thank goodness for the player's iPad and our smart phones.  All are loaded with language translation software and we are able to muddle through some basic conversations.  I really appreciate all the people at Google Translate who worked so hard to bring this app to those of us who are trying to communicate with someone who does not speak the same language. 

A few years ago we hosted a Czech hockey player who also did not speak any English.  Then we had to depend on our trusty English - Czech/ Czech - English Dictionary to look up individual words.  Now we can type, or even speak, whole sentences into our devices and are able to "talk." 

As a digital immigrant I often struggle with new technology and trying to figure it out.  Yet right now I would not trade my smart phone and its translation software for anything.  I'm even picking up a few new words in Russian! 

Thanks to all the geeks at Google.  You have made my life much easier today! 

First Thoughts

This blog is something I have wanted to do for quite a while.  Since writing is a big part of my life as a college instructor and a doctoral student I felt the need to write even more and post some of my observations and thoughts on this blog.  I will update it with my thoughts on this journey through our world that is filled with technology.  Yet as a Baby Boomer I can remember life with only three television stations and no cell phones.

The photograph I am using for this blog for the moment was taken by my young friend Stacy Beery.  This was taken on a cruise she took to Antarctica.  Sometimes I feel like this little seal, just watching and observing as life passes me by.  Other times I jump in and immerse myself in what is happening around me.

Stacy, who took this photo, is one of those young adults who is jumping in and making a difference in this world.  If you want to keep up with what she is doing go to Facebook and check out the Seeds of Our Future Project.  Once you like the Seeds of Our Future Project you will be updated on what Stacy is doing in South Africa.

Thanks for reading.  I look forward to continuing this journey and sharing my thoughts.