Degrees of Separation

Years ago, I saw the stage version of "Six degrees of Separation" at the Dallas Theater Center. The idea of connectedness resonated with me and I often think of it when I meet new people. Through Shinya, I am connected to many people in Japan. Through Stephen and his travels in Japan I am connected to many more. Through all the returned missionaries I have known, I am connected to the people they know in many parts of the world. And so forth...

This thought has returned to me in connection with all the random blogs I read. I started out as a fan of Benac.com. These are people I actually know. Then I started reading their kids blogs... I know the kids too. But then I started reading blogs that are linked to blogs of people I know and people they know. Some of the blogs I read now are up to 3 or 4 degrees of separation. It seems wierd that I regularly read the thoughts of people I don't know. I am an uninvited spectator of their lives. I comment once in a while, but I don't leave a link to this blog. I am not a confident blogger yet. I'm doing it mostly for me. I enjoy the thoughts that others share. I sometimes think about how akward it might be to actually meet them in person. They are people I would like to know, but most are a lot younger than I am and would be unlikely friends.

Snow Day, January 2007

I had a math test at 8 AM today. Determined not to be late, I got up at 6:12 - only 2 minutes after my alarm went off - and took my shower, etc. Bill poked his head into the bathroom to announce that there was an 80% chance of snow today with a light dusting already. It didn't register. By 7:30 I was dressed, my bag was packed and I was just finishing up the breakfast dishes when Rene appeared. He announced that while everyone else in the world was getting a snow day, Dallas schools are carrying on. I told him he's from Germany; he can handle it. Then it suddenly registered - everyone else just might include TWU. I checked the website and sure enough, TWU's Denton and Dallas campuses are closed for the day. So I get a snow day! It's a little ridiculous. There is so little snow... but I have plenty to do.

Snow Day, January 1985

The DISD, Dallas Independent School District, rarely calls a snow day. One January day when Sarah was in kindergarten it was an icy, snowy morning. We listened to the radio listing all the many, many school districts that were closed. Dallas was not among them. So being a proud New Englander and not afraid of snow, I dutifully took Sarah to the bus stop where only 2 or 3 of the 8 to 10 usual students got on. At the end of the day I met the bus. Sarah got off and in all seriousness said, "Mom you were wrong; there wasn't any school today." Baffled for a moment, I said, "But the bus picked you up and brought you home. Where have you been all day?" It turned out that neither of the 2 kinder teachers made it to school and only 4 or five kids from the 2 classes showed up. They spent the day with an office aid playing games and coloring. I probably should have kept her home.