Cornerstone

iPod morning commute music: The Go-Betweens, 1978-1990, disc 1 (1990)

As many of you already know, Grant McLennan, half of the songwriting team (with Robert Forster)of the Go-Betweens (and, in their latest incarnation, just simply half of the Go-Betweens) passed away on May 6th of this year. He will be missed. One listen to this best-of CD and you will understand why.

For the past couple of days, construction workers had been jackhammering away at the main existing building of our school, just outside the window of one of our two language labs. It turns out they were opening around the cornerstone of our school, dated 1935, behind which were two time capsules filled with school memorabilia from that time. We had a small service at 4:00 yesterday afternoon, hymns and prayers, and then they opened the time capsules. It was strange to stand there holding photos of students who died in a typhoon that blew down one of the original buildings and newspapers (including one in English!), knowing that 70 years ago teachers from the school put them there. It really felt like holding history in your hands. Of course, part of it is knowing that we are creating our own history, with the new school building opening in August, followed by the raising of the building which housed the now-opened time capsules. In my 21st year here, I realize that I'm becoming part of the history of this school.

Today is the second day of mid-terms. I should be able to leave by noon today, maybe drop by Tower Records on the way home. It will be nice to have the afternoon off.