Years ago, perhaps a little too far ahead of the curve, I decided to go through all of the various photo albums I had accumulated and digitize everything. I like technology so I invested in a rapid scanner and what at the time was a cutting-edge 2 TB external hard drive.
Last year, with extra time afforded to me by the lockdown in San Francisco, I went looking for a particular file only to discover that the hard drive (I called her “2TB Tessie”) wouldn’t turn on. I cycled through Best Buy’s Geek Squad and then found a somewhat underground character who was described to me as a “tech ninja.”
To no avail…all of my childhood photos and scanned documents are gone.
While some might be devastated by a loss like this, I was at first disappointed, but largely indifferent. And today, after seeing an ad for “digitizing your family memories,” I realize that I actually feel lighter. Sure, I’d like to be able to peruse a selection of my childhood photos but I also like being nudged instead to focus on the future.
To paraphrase a character from Kung Fu Panda, “the past…has past, the future is unknown and the present is a gift (that’s why its called the “present”).
(And yes, I’m the guy with the yellow tie in this photo; Jason with hair!)
Adventures of a Bald Canadian 
Hi, Jason,
Thank you for your most interesting messages .It is fascinating tor us to hear first hand from you how your life is panning out. I hope you have a satisfactory outcome with your negotiations. Your current employers sound very fond of you, so I am sure if you decide to embark on a new course they will support you.
We are in shutdown here in Hitchin, and so have seen what is, and has, happened in America, and find Trump and his supporters unbelievable. He must be deranged, but enough, you must hear this all the time. We are used to being home alone by now, our biggest problem could be boredom, but we haven’t reached that stage yet. I feel so sorry for those who are stuck in a small flat without access to the countryside.
Our family are spread far and wide now. Julie and four of our grandchildren are in Bristol, where Rebecca gave birth to Evelyn a week before Christmas, a sister for Finlay, both gorgeous children, and the rest of the group still single although some with partners. Julie herself is now a Bank Manager with TSB, and is quite a career woman, although she may change that one day and become “supergran”, who knows! Robert is still a Buddhist monk and teacher in the Philipines, and is very content there. Paul lives in Western Australia. The Kimberleys, where he lives , is very different from the UK, but has a beauty all of it’s own. He has two little girls, who will be going to school in Perth later this year, as the education is better there..
We are in touch with the rest of the family (thank goodness for the internet) and I enjoy playing Words With friends with your Mum.
Please keep your blog going. The present certainly is a gift!
Love to you, keep safe and well, Isobel and John xxx