By Scott Shephard

They say that as we get older, we tend to look backward more than we look forward. I guess I’m not old enough yet for that to happen. While I do revisit my past from time to time - often triggered by songs or pictures - I don’t dwell there.

But it did occur to me this morning that I live more in the present than I would otherwise. Is this COVID-19 related? Probably. For, in “normal” times, I would be working on travel plans for February and then for this coming summer. But thinking about travel isn’t part of our modus operandi these days, especially now that the camper is put away.

I’m not complaining. Frankly, I kind of like the idea of getting lost in the present. I have been working a lot on photos, which I’ve decided, should COVID or some other disaster strike me, are a big part of my legacy. That legacy is lost if all I leave behind are a half million digital files on two or three 4 TB hard drives.

And so I lose track of time organizing and (painfully) culling photos. While doing this, I listen to music, audiobooks and podcasts. Before I know it, its time for lunch. Or supper. Or bed. (You should know that there are several occasions during the day when I include quality time with Deb. I’m not a total hermit.)

My sorting of photos is very right brained - and fairly dependent on an inscrutable stream of consciousness. Without explaining the details, here’s how I ended up editing today’s photo: a totally unexpected text message from a high school friend > a blog post from another high school friend > a sermon shared by my best high school friend > Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” > this photo. I guess “high school” is the connecting thread, but I can’t easily explain how “DSOTM” fits in.. To truncate one of my favorite quotes from Macbeth: “There’s no art to find the mind’s construction . . . .”

So what are we looking at today? My best girl, my best friend and me all dressed to the nines. I believe this photo was taken at the premiere of the only major motion picture I have ever been involved in titled “They Eat Matzos, Don’t They?” Deb is looking beautiful and coy, as usual, and my best friend is way too close to my girl. But as you can see, I’m a happy guy. Life was good. And in spite of some roadblocks and barriers these days, it still is.

Now, it’s time to get back to the stream of consciousness I like to dip my toes in . . .