Hundred Days of Happiness - Week Fifteen
Reflecting on my 100 days of happiness, I embrace gratitude despite life's chaos.
So, I have technically finished my hundred days of happiness. But I won’t quit just now. Personally, I find it really good to continue to be grateful for the good things in life even when things seem out of control in the general world.
Feb 17 – Day 100
This book came in the mail while I was away in France. I look forward to reading it. I could use both some peace and some power in my life. I saw it recommended on BlueSky and bought it. I keep on toying with getting diagnosed as ADHD but I don’t know if it’s worth it. If it could give me some better coping mechanisms that would be great. I cannot be medicated because of my heart issues, so I don’t know. But this book does seem to fit the bill for my personality type.
Feb 18 – Day 101
Tuesday started with beautiful sunrise at school drop off - we no longer have to use our bike lights on the ride to school. Then I caught up over coffee with a friend who recently moved house in the neighborhood. It was good to have something to celebrate. We talked about life and as pretty much always, ended up talking politics. Both our countries are dumpster fires in similar ways - right wing autocrats have taken over and destroyed any semblance of Democracy much to the detriment of many others in the world not just the citizens and neighbors. It’s distressing to put it mildly.
In the afternoon, our son had his student-teacher meeting to go over his school report. At his primary school it’s not a parent-teacher meeting to discuss the student who isn’t present. Instead, it’s a meeting between the student and the teacher and the parent is invited along and can ask questions if there is time. I asked about the process of middelbare school and when to start looking at schools and the answer is that that process begins next scholastic year (2025-26). Wasn’t he just born?
The Dutch system combines middle and high school into one school which starts when the students are around 12 years old. So at age 10 (2025-26) they start looking at schools, age 11 (2026-27) they put their top five choices into a lottery system and then they will know before they finish primary school where they are headed at age 12 (2027-2032). The teacher’s advice was to aim “high”. I don’t want to pressure him, but I also want to ensure he’s engaged, stimulated, and educated. I’m grateful for the level of education he is receiving here in the Netherlands, it really is good so far.
Feb 19 – Day 102
I planned on taking the train to Amsterdam and gave myself a bit of wiggle room. Having checked the routes the night before I decided to take a different way as my normal route looked to be disrupted by maintenance. But I made a mistake which I have learned from now, I didn’t check the app in the morning. I just took the bus to Maarssen with the plan of taking the Sprinter train to Amsterdam and then catching the Metro to where I needed to go.
Denied!
I took the bus back from Maarssen and went back home to drive to the meeting. Because I had given myself a smidge of wiggle room I was only about 5 minutes late, but that was stressful and unpleasant. Glad I had a car to drive there and back. Hopefully next time the public infrastructure will hold fast.
Feb 20 – Day 103
Realized that we leave on our trip early Sat morning, and would be busy with work in Amsterdam all day on Friday, so packed up on Thursday evening and Pica made his disappointment very much known. Here he is giving me quite the look.
Feb 21 – Day 104
Went for a walk with a friend Friday morning and the white cat that is always around in the park jumped up and did NOT want to get down. Such a lovebug! 😽😽 Just don’t tell Pica. 🤫
The walk was before I made my way to Amsterdam and this time the public infrastructure held firm. I got up to AMS in time and we had a very good meeting with allies of the Stichting Internet Archive. I took photos of the event and then they went for an “action” shot and everyone loved it.
Feb 22 – Day 105
Flying in for a super quick visit to California to see my family. It was a long flight, but super excited to be with my family and see all the greenery and loveliness that is the Bay Area.
Feb 23 – Day 106
We fired up the Macintosh Plus from 1986, it gave the classic dong and it said “Welcome to Macintosh but then it started smoking ‼️
— Beatrice Murch (@murchstudio.com) 2025-02-24T02:05:35.567Z
I put the photo of the old Macintosh Plus starting up online and it went a tiny bit viral (for me). I didn’t think of the inadvertent joke I’d make about it smoking and people ran with it. 😀
As it is almost the end of February and thus almost the end of Black History Month, I wanted to include this bit of American History with the story of Nina Simone’s classic song “Mississippi Goddam!” Seems appropriate in these times to remember how artists can express the current political and sociological climates, but also remember that it comes at great cost and to be grateful for their courage and personal and emotional sacrifice. 🙏 Be part of the solution.
Didn't realize you deal with ADHD. You function well and don't show any of the issues with the problem. More of us should be as energetic and goal oriented as you are to get things done.
David's schooling is intriquing with the Dutch education system. Seems a student is not allowed to blossom if one is a slow learner earlier in their life. These days unlike when I grew up schooling is demanding and no allowance for those who move along at a slower pace. I'm lucky to get educated in the '50's and '60's. Your work isn't easy and demanding and glad to see you're making happen. Few people these days are as punctual conscious as you are to be on time. Punctuality seems to be low on the totem pole of priorities. Tardiness in Hawaii is accepted and call Hawaiian time. I got a chuckle from the smokiing Mac antigue. Had that happen back in the day when I started using Apple computers. Hope you continue on your journey and posting on Dutch life past the 100 days. We'll get through these upsetting times as long as others remind us that we're not alone in fighting against autocracy and oligarchy. Be well and prosper. Aloha.
Thanks Joe. So I'm not sure if I do or not, but all signs point to yes. There are lots of different ways it manifests, especially in women vs men. Hawaiian time sounds a lot like "Bo time" (for Bolinas) and also Argentine time. Things just move at a slower pace. The Dutch are super punctual - it's rare for them to be 5 mins late. I'll keep on writing! Hugs.