I had an extremely busy day yesterday (day 98 of this blog). Preparing to move back up to Badenoch, but not The Manse. Posting three pieces by three GANTOBers. Messing up the numbering of these posts.
This is the third post. It’s definitely still 30 December 2023, in Honolulu. And will still be 30 December for a couple more hours in Samoa.
The post below is by Liam, concluding his earlier piece about Susan and The Krossing. You can watch a video that I (GANTOB) made in tribute (with help from my family) at the B&B where we’re staying before our move.
I am posting it at 23:23, Honolulu time. We are then stocking up at the local Coop and finally moving in to our new place before readying ourselves for Hogmanay. Work is a distant thought (3 January). WiFi (beamed to a dish via local beacon or something) and a perch for me to use in my telesales persona are already tested.
I will post my final blog for 2023 by 23:23, Inverness time (i.e. GMT/ UTC). Then I will prepare the book of the blog.
Thank you for making the last 99 days of 2023 such fun.
Yours,
GANTOB
The caffeine was beginning to kick in, and Susan decided it was time to put on her big girl pants and get involved in the madness.
All around her were people who all seemed so different, yet all seemed to share a zest for life, a willingness to immerse themselves in a common cause, and were not afraid of what anyone might think. For once in her life, Susan wished SHE could be like that. What was stopping her she asked herself. The answer to that was, of course, nothing. nothing except her inane fear of not being in Kontrol!
But in order to find out What The FUUK was really going on, she had to leave her inhibitions aside. It was now or never.
She has a wander around the room, taking in all the Skools that were happening. A coffin made of cardboard was in front of her. It was diligently being put together by a friendly looking chap. Let’s call him Andy, for that was his name. “What are you doing and how can I help?” Susan found herself asking. The answer was that this coffin was going to be filled with 23K shredded words from the Eulogies of people who had died in 2023. And once full, it was to form part of the procession along with The Peoples Pyramid. You can help by doing some shredding said Andy.
So Susan found herself reading through the eulogies of people she didn’t know, had no connection to, or any links whatsoever. But on reading these words, she realised that this wasn’t actually true. She read the celebration of each person’s life in the words of those that knew and loved them, and it suddenly clicked. Everyone and everything is connected. Every living soul, every person who has passed, every action and every reaction.
The Epiphany was real! It was happening to Susan and she embraced it. It all became clear to her. The reason GANTOB had done what she did. She realised that the things she herself held as being important were nothing of the sort. The things people put emphasis and importance on were nothing more than a charade.
Susan was now questioning her whole life, but rather than being deflated, angry or Konfused, she felt alive. She had found her tribe. She couldn’t wait to find GANTOB.
LIAM
30 December 2023
GANTOB blog 