If I were writing for a book, I would say that I taught from a loft, surrounded by multiple computer screens with a big panoramic window overlooking the water. That would sound good and add an extra layer to the description of my day. The truth is that I teach, these days and for the foreseeable future, from my street facing third bedroom with a laptop perched on a stand being held together by Krazy Glue. That isn’t bad, it just doesn’t sound impressive. It doesn’t have a view of the water, or mountains.
What it does have is a view of my the mailbox (once billed as a “super-box”) for the street. In addition to spotting my neighbours as they either stop on the way home, or make the enjoyable pilgrimage from their houses, I get to watch postal carrier (my older, less PC chided neighbours still say mailman) screech to a halt in front of the “super-boxes”, efficiently open them and load up the mail, and the slam the door closed before doing his best Indy 500 burnout to escape my street and get to the next “super-box”.
The schedule varies wildly, but I am usually teaching when this happens. Since I’ve got my window open, I am sure my students get the audio treat as well.
As for me, what I really enjoy now that I am home, is venturing across the street during my rather short teaching break to get the mail. Although I am not really expecting a lot of mail (currently waiting on a Japanese spec screwdriver for my bicycle, and the complete set of stamps from Bulgaria for 1970), I check the box every day. I like the sense of anticipation. I like wondering if anything will be in the box when I swing it open and crouch down to peer inside. I like getting letters, packages, and even sometimes I find the junk mail amusing.
Throughout this “lockdown” I have developed quite a few rituals which I am enjoying. It’s only a minute out of my day, but it is an enjoyable one. For that reason alone, it deserves the title of Today’s Perfect Moment.
