Breaking news: the US government is back in operation. I have trouble at times deciding if that is a good thing or a bad thing these days. But suffice it to say that we are back to "business as usual" - it's the "as usual" that is the most problematic aspect of that phrase.
It's been a bit of a crazy October for me. Between my 25th college reunion and a speaking engagement at an annual conference, I have found myself out of town for about a third of the month. That's enough to keep me feeling a little out of sync. I am looking forward to November, though with it comes a time change and the realization that the sun sets a whole lot earlier in wintertime.
Onwards to Episode 078 of the Rhubarb Report!
We are now 13 days into a government shutdown in the United States. It is hard to imagine that any group has the power to simply "shut down" governmental operations. Worse yet, it is even harder to imagine that any group can do so while pushing an agenda counter to legislation that has already passed into law. But I digress.
Politics in the United States have reached new levels for acrimony, disrespect, and a general disdain for the desires of the constituency. What is most annoying - and, frankly, downright disgusting - is how legislators can claim to quote the values of the Constitution while failing to provide context in the process. But as we all know, words without context bear greater power for instilling fear - and fear is a great motivator.
So while we all wait to see if the country will go back online, it's time for Episode 77 of the Rhubarb Report.
It is a phrase that will put a smile on your face and warmth in your heart no matter what the context:
"Welcome home".
It is a phrase that I heard repeatedly over the past 5 days. Why? As time would have it, 2013 is the 25th anniversary of my graduation from Queen's University. That being the case, it was time for a homecoming reunion.
I can tell you with great certainty from my experiences while on campus that they take reunions seriously at Queen's. This year was no different.
The last few weeks have been busy weeks, indeed. I've not been writing as much or as frequently. Oh, the ebb and flow of time while teaching a class in the fall semester and attempting to put some focus into some more expansive writing projects.
But do not fear, oh faithful readers. It is a momentary episode of radio silence. Trust me, the thoughts and ideas are percolating!
And, of course, there is always rhubarb to be found on a daily basis. So let's forge ahead with another episode of the Rhubarb Report – number 76, to be exact.
The flurry of activity that is traditionally the first two weeks of a new semester of teaching are now over. For some reason, even after teaching the same class (Functional Anatomy) for 10 years - 8 with the same co-instructor - the first two weeks always seem to be filled with craziness. It's nice to finally get back in the groove for the long haul of a fall semester.
The fall season actually tends to be one of familiarity and comfort. The weather improves - making it far more comfortable to be active outdoors. It is all soon followed by the comforts of Thanksgiving and the holiday season, even with the challenges they tend to dish up for many.
But that doesn't mean that everything settles down in the real world - far from it. With that in mind, here is Episode 75 of the Rhubarb Report, once again reminding us that truth is, in fact, stranger than fiction.
I vividly remember the stunning, clear blue September sky that day. I drove in to the office like I had done many other times before, listening to my favorite FM radio show to get me laughing before work.
Then the laughter stopped. And the unimaginable happened.
The images on television cut us to the core. We stood transfixed as we watched our collective national innocence end right before our very eyes.
It's been hard to find our way forward since that tragic day.
There is always a certain degree of excitement at this time of year. It's the start of a new semester of teaching, which is always an adventure regardless of how many years you have taught the course. Ten years into teaching functional anatomy and I can say it is still a fresh slate on the first day of class.
It is also the start of college football season. With college football comes the thought - admittedly faint right now - that fall weather will soon be here. Call me an optimist I guess - and a sweating-profusely-in-August one at that.
This episode of the Rhubarb Report takes us back in history, and looks ahead to something that hopefully won't create it.
Allan Besselink, PT, DPT, Ph.D., Dip.MDT has a unique voice in the world of sports, education, and health care. Read more about Allan here.