What I’m Blogging

I spent a year at work this March. Sure it wasn’t a linear temporal year, but somewhere in the vast universe of reality and the rest, I aged at twelve times the rate of normal. The “Bug Hunt” from the 4^Th was the catalyst for this cycle of aging, how the company and I reacted was the cause of my disappearance from the face of the earth. Objects moving faster than time do not appear in the visual spectrum, nor can they be heard. In a time warp, no one can hear you scream.

PCs were scanned; networks secured; nasty bugs terminated with extreme prejudice. It’s nice and pristine now, at least until the clever north wind blows in the next disgruntled hacker bent on mayhem.

Presently, it appears that time and I are back in sync, but technology and work stand ever ready to tear a rip in time again. The question this time is how will I react to it?

Today is April Fools’ Day, a holiday celebrating practical jokes of all kinds. The British collection of folk wisdom known as Poor Robin’s Almanac (1662) says: “The first of April, some do say, Is set apart for All Fools’ Day.”

…Looking foolish does the spirit good…

One theory about the origin of April Fools’ Day is that it started in France in 1582. Up until then, New Year’s Day was celebrated on April 1st, but when Europe adopted the Gregorian calendar, New Year’s Day was moved to January 1st. At the time, news of such things traveled slowly, and it took many years for everyone to get up to speed. People who continued to celebrate New Years on April 1st came to be known as April Fools.

John Updike said, “Looking foolish does the spirit good.”

Poem: “The Art of Disappearing” by Naomi Shihab Nye from Words Under the Words: Selected Poems. © The Eighth Mountain Press.

The Art of Disappearing

When they say Don’t I know you?
say no.

When they invite you to the party
remember what parties are like
before answering.
Someone telling you in a loud voice
they once wrote a poem.
Greasy sausage balls on a paper plate.
Then reply.

If they say We should get together
say why?

It’s not that you don’t love them anymore.
You’re trying to remember something
too important to forget.
Trees. The monastery bell at twilight.
Tell them you have a new project.
It will never be finished.

When someone recognizes you in a grocery store
nod briefly and become a cabbage.
When someone you haven’t seen in ten years
appears at the door,
don’t start singing him all your new songs.
You will never catch up.

Walk around feeling like a leaf.
Know you could tumble any second.
Then decide what to do with your time.