‽istis ponders reunions (weekending April 29th 2023)
This weekending ‽istis has been trying to co-ordinate diaries to
plan a ‘catch-up’ with busy old friends who have not been in the same place at
the same time for a very long time indeed – possibly decades! Everyone involved
will have known each over for over 40 years!
And ‽istis is also wondering whether to go to a proposed school
reunion, as the year group hits an apparently significant birthday. Everyone
involved knew each other more than 40 years’ ago!
So, very mixed, nostalgic reminiscent ponderings this week…
‽ What has changed – within, between and without us all?
‽ What has stayed the same – within, between and without us all?
‽ What has been shared and what has been utterly unique?
‽ Will I remember? Will I be remembered?
‽ Why have some stayed in touch and others just brushed past each
other - then in the same place and the same time: a fleeting connection in the
moments, in those present times?
‽ What joys, sadnesses, elations, trauma, frustrations,
disappointments, hopes realised?
‽ What laughter? What tears? What unremarkable emotions?
‽ What did we plan and manage, what was thrown at us – beyond control
– and how did we cope?
‽ What fears and hopes – avoided or realised?
‽ How did we get to be this old? Thanks that we got to be this old!
‽ Where have we been and what have we seen and heard and smelt and
tasted and felt and thought (and even wondered and pondered)?
‽ What have we achieved and how might we measure that?
‽ Lost opportunities? Days seized?
‽ What have we learned?
‽ What have we created and added?
‽ Have we made a difference? – for the worse, for the better, for few
if any, for many?
‽ Have we made the most of this extraordinary ordinary every day experience?
…and ‽istis wonders whether others will be wondering these or
other questions…
So, with some trepidation but also some excitement, ‽istis approaches
these events – in the diary now, in pen – thinking about the people we meet and
are… then and now and yet to come.
And as ‽istis ponders, a feature comes on the radio – members of a
local Ukrainian choir, women and children safe here; longing for reunion after
a year of separation; hoping to be back with partners, parents and friends; hoping
again to once more be back in the same place at the same time…
What will have stayed the same, what will have changed?
©‽istis
NB: further reflections and comments linked to this week’s theme and
past blog entries to be found on Twitter: replies, retweets (which don’t
necessarily indicate approval, sometimes the very opposite!) and ‘likes’:
@Pistis_wonders. ‘Follows’ and respectful comment and dialogue welcome...
