Doug Peterson‘s blog post from yesterday continues to weigh on me. I’ve never been a big vacation person and don’t usually go away in the summer — often choosing to work for part of the summer instead — but this year I had plans.
The first vacation plan won’t seem like much of a vacation to many, but for me, I’ve been looking forward to this for months. I was off to Peterborough. Okay, maybe this is just a short car ride away, but this Peterborough trip was one that I’ve wanted to make for years but never have, as the timing has never worked out right. This year though, I was determined to attend The MEHRIT Centre‘s Summer Symposium. I was finally going to meet in person people that I’ve wanted to meet for years, and never have had the opportunity to do so. I signed up for the full week back in November, and I was counting down the days until July!
Wahoo!! I just registered for the FULL WEEK at #SRSS2020. Can’t wait! Will finally get to meet the people that have influenced my teaching practices so much! @Self_Reg @susanhopkins5 @StuartShanker pic.twitter.com/sDq4J2ZF5s
— 𝘼𝙫𝙞𝙫𝙖 𝘿𝙪𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙚𝙧 (@avivaloca) November 23, 2019
While I recognize that a conference does not usually count as a vacation, an opportunity to converse and reflect with individuals that share my passion for Self-Reg was something that I’ve wanted to do for years. And I was finally, finally, going to meet Stuart Shanker and Cathy Lethbridge: two people who I’ve wanted to meet forever! I know that my safety matters more than a conference, but my heart still aches for this cancellation. (And yes, I do realize that this is a privileged perspective, but I want to be honest here.)
The second vacation is actually not mine, but one that my sister and her family were going to make. My sister and her family live in the States, and as a result, I don’t see them very much. They were going to drive down to Ontario for my nephew’s birthday at the end of August. He hasn’t been to Canada since he was a toddler, and I was so excited to show him different spaces now that he’s a pre-teen. But with festival cancellations, pool closures, and hotel problems, they had to cancel their trip. Again, I understand why, and I know that they’re fortunate that they will be able to re-book again, but it still hurts.
While I think that my summer will now be filled with working (from home, but still connected to education) and reading (it’s no surprise that I love to do that), I’m still missing these not-so-vacation vacations. Strangely enough this unrelated tweet that I sent out yesterday morning has actually had me thinking a lot about this vacation topic.
The more books that I read, the more times I find myself thinking, "Why are these characters not observing social distancing?" Then I remember that these books were written pre-COVID. I wonder what impact the Coronavirus might have on future novels written.
— 𝘼𝙫𝙞𝙫𝙖 𝘿𝙪𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙚𝙧 (@avivaloca) May 30, 2020
As others even mentioned in reply to me, it’s not only through books that people are making these connections.
I know! Same with when I’m watching a movie! It’s like, where’s your mask, why are you in a crowded place!!! #covidtrauma
— Christine Beauchamp (@cvbeauchamp) May 30, 2020
That’s so funny! I found myself doing the same thing while watching TV during the first few weeks of lockdown.
— Ellen Dee (@ellen_em_dee) May 30, 2020
The Coronavirus is taking over our lives, and having us view almost everything differently.
- Will books, movies, and television shows slowly start representing our COVID-19 world? Do we want them to?
I read a fair number of works of fiction that are in-progress (amateur fics, fan fics etc) and I found myself hoping that they don't begin to incorporate Covid-19 plot lines. I read fiction to escape reality. I need that safe-zone.
— Pat Campbell (@campbibi) May 30, 2020
- Will social gatherings and festivals be possible again, and in the same way(s) as before?
- Even as the world opens up, how quickly will we go back to normal, and will this “normal” change?
I’m finding it hard to imagine life post-COVID. As much as I want my vacation options from this year to be my ones for next year, I wonder if that will be possible.
For now, I’m trying to decide when my #extendedMarchBreakRead Instagram hashtag becomes the #SummerofCOVIDReading hashtag. Maybe the move over will be more seamless than I think. For now, I’m grateful that my summer of reading can continue, even if my thoughts around these books might be impacted by our pandemic. I wonder if we all need a little bit of normal in our lives right now, no matter how small it may be. What do you think? How do you find it? Here’s to hoping that all of your summer plans keep you and your family healthy, happy, and safe … the things that matter most of all!
Aviva