SHAKEN NOT STIRRED

Ever woken up to the realization that your life recently seems to have been Shaken up. I have, and I have a feeling that it doesn’t seem to be over yet.

The only good thing about this morning is waking up at 7:30 and not at 3:30, 5:30, 7:30 and 9:30 as I had the previous night. After a couple of nights like this, almost anyone is ready to ask the simple question, “Is it just me, or is there something strange in the air these past couple of days, weeks or months?”

For example, although we all misplace things we’ve put in a safe place, so we don’t lose them, spending two full days looking everywhere we can think of unsuccessfully, does not make for a calm, enjoyable weekend. Neither does misplacing something else you immediately need among your non-paperless world.

Recently I returned from a trip around Spain, which although perhaps a bit too cool/cold to be in the north and somewhat too rainy in the south was interesting, and generally pretty enjoyable.

Since this was just after the American election, 15 months of 24/7 media bombardment about politics, followed by ½ of the United States waking up in shock at the outcome; the Americans on the trip seemed generally to be in a state of PTSD. The Australians were, as usual, on some extended globe trot of which we were but a small leg; and the Canadians were, well Canadians, out to see a bit more of the world, this time Spanish. Since few spoke any other languages than English and French, some found it very challenging and seemed not to venture out much on their own.

In any case, usually a trip ends and you head home. You’ve seen a lot and met a lot of new people. You are glad to be in clean clothes again, soon have seen all you want of the recent damage to your bank account, and generally spend the next weeks visiting with friends, family and playing catch up with your mail and your country for a bit. Not this time.

Rumours of the death of a relatively young cousin, unfortunately true, turned the days immediately after my return into a turbulent time during which various of my cousins families revisited ancient disputes with each other and us. I actually have begun to wonder whether most of the world is angry about something we just haven’t found a way to get past.

Nevertheless, though there are times when the world and its inhabitants make us wonder where we are going, without making a lot of sense, perhaps we need such unusual events to remind us that our lives can change in a minute and that being complacent is the last thing most of us should ever be.

The newly released Jackie movie may serve to remind us that various events from the past still resonate and evoke potent memories, even half a lifetime later. Meanwhile, the snow on the ground reminds us that another Winter has arrived.

Whether we like it or not, although we are generally familiar with the annual life cycle, life still has some surprises in store for us which are just different enough to be challenging and keep us alert and awake. Perhaps, whether shaken or stirred, life reminds us that we are alive and finds a way to make us pay attention.