Blue-Footed Musings

It rained today. Downpoured, even. I went out for a walk, and even with an umbrella, I got soaked. I didn’t mind, though. We need every last drop that falls.

This week our public schools welcomed students back for the first time since March. There were some hiccups, especially at dismissal time, or so I heard. I was not there to see it, and neither were my children, because we’re continuing with distance learning.

Distance learning is working out well, but I have to admit that I’m a little jealous of those other kids and their parents. How exciting for them to have their first real school day! But I worry for them, too. COVID-19 cases are on the rise again. I’m afraid that open schools will contribute to community spread, and that more people will get sick, perhaps even die. Only time will tell. I like to be right, usually, but in this matter I hope I’m wrong.

A lot of paper crosses my desk. Some of it is and always will be important. Some of it is temporarily important. Some of it is irrelevant. Deciding which category a paper falls into can be difficult, and the simplest solution, I have always found, is to file all of the paper away. That way, if you need the paper, it’s there. And if you don’t need it, at least it’s out of your way.

That approach works for a long time. Years. Decades. Until one day you realize that your once neat files have grown into a wild paper jungle so massive and disorderly that you can barely open up the file drawers let alone find what you’re looking for inside.

The fix for that is to have a Shreddapalooza, and that’s what I did today. I shredded tons of paper, most of which I probably never needed. In my enthusiasm, I may even have shredded some paper that I do need. I filled up two trash bags and a recycling bin, and I’m not done yet. Tomorrow Shreddapalooza will continue!

Because the kids won’t be able to go trick-or-treating this year, I went online and ordered a bunch of Halloween treats for them. I wanted them to have some variety, like they would if they were collecting their loot from different houses, so I bought chocolate, cookies, gummies, chips, and a few other odds and ends. I spent more that I probably should have, but it was less that what I’d have spent on costumes. Plus, I paid with one of the gift cards that I got for my 25th work anniversary, so in a way the treats were free.

My plan is to set up a treasure hunt as a replacement for trick-or-treating. I hope I’ll be able to find the time and the energy for that. If not, at least the kids will enjoy the treats.