The passage of time is generally only ever noted when punctuated by significant events and activities.

This week, a mate of mine from the Department, on the verge of completing his Ph.D., leaves Canberra for Birmingham, UK where he will take up a position as a lecturer. His departure highlights how time is running out on my own research and how I too will soon have to contemplate career choices and decisions.

This time last year, I was watching Big Brother and was very busy preparing for my research fieldtrip to Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok. This time this year, I should be doing the same for my upcoming fieldtrip to Seoul and Kuala Lumpur… I should… but I am not. However, I am still watching Big Brother.

One of my best friends in Canberra has just completed her undergraduate degree and will be leaving Australia in a few weeks’ time. I have known her for two and a half years. I will be saying goodbye to her this week and bid farewell to late-night chats in each other’s flats, angsty conversations about men, and sharing tips on knitting.

I am meeting a very, very good friend in Sydney next week. We’ve known each other for 28 years now. I last saw him in April 2006 - it’s been over a year. We’ve so much to catch up on. I’m really looking forward to seeing him again.

Yesterday, I found myself having to stop and actually count how long my last relationship had lasted. The answer was no longer reflexive and automatic. It was eight years.

I’ve been dating someone. I haven’t blogged or talked about this much. This week marks 24 weeks, or close to 6 months, that we’ve been seeing each other. It’s going well.

I frequently wonder where all the time has gone… and how I could have achieved so little in so much time… but I know, if nothing else, I have lived.

Posted on July 5th, 2007 by jl
Filed under: Life!, Remnants of a Previous Life, love