As Hurricane Ida hit New Orleans on the exact same day as Hurricane Katrina had hit sixteen years ago; I found myself looking back, but looking beyond Katrina. Using those 16 years as a base, I found myself looking back and looking forward. Most interesting to me was the perspective that I have now that I am 16 years older and we are still living reduced lives from the ongoing, debilitating pandemic.
First, I realized that I have been journaling daily (mostly) for 24 years.
Next year, I will have been journaling for 25 years, AND will have owned the Chatette for 20 years.
Often, I would write about my life in 10 year chunks. I remember writing about different themes to my life for the 70's, 80's, and so on.
My serious journaling started during 1997. Today, I am on journal number 121.
I often wish I had been journaling during those earlier years, but mostly I am grateful that I have for the of now almost 25.
I realized that when I was younger, it felt right to chunk my life in decades and could easily put theme to them looking back or even journaling when I was living them.
Now, I find I'm chunking 20 years together. I confess, they feel like they are going by much faster.
Maybe it's because of the clear distinction of life in Cadrieu and life in New Orleans.
Maybe it's all the friends that have been passing away way too regularly.
Then, there are those who are facing debilitating illness.
There's also the fact that the pandemic has changed concept and flow of time in our lives.
I also wonder if I even have 20 more years?
Chunks of 20 years still feel right to me. I shall continue on as I am and just keep paying attention...only time will tell!
Happy Friday!
*Photos here are from the archives with St. Therese of Lisieux taken of an antique post card!
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