On Time and Space

The new year has always begun in September not January, and I’ve always thought an academic annual rhythm would survive the end of my student days. Certainly, it would persist if I taught! But—here I am, September coming tomorrow, already 6 weeks into a school year half a world away...and time has lost meaning. It didn’t feel like September 6 weeks ago, either. August 31st brings news from my other worlds: last swims in the ocean, last waterskis, last visits, blackberries galore, frantic shopping, packing, relocating, returning. Reports of both jitters and of weary sighs: new semesters, new jobs, new programs; or back once again to the same-old. It’s hard to imagine: I left in early July, when the Canadian summer was just warming up, and in my mind home remains frozen in that spacetime. Meanwhile, over here, a shocking reminder from the principal: quarter reports due in 10 days. Quarter?!?! (I’m still operating without a semester plan for most classes). Reports?!?! (You mean actually assess these kids? But we were having so much fun just learning…)