Terrapin Station

The Recycling of the Paper Trail

The month after I started working at UNT, two of our students were involved in a car accident in Mexico, and one of them was killed.

I had a file on that.

I also had a file on the rape, and one on the vandalism. I had a file on the fatal heroin overdose in Amsterdam.

When I left my job in Study Abroad, I took them with me. They were all at least 10 years old and, as it happened, the next person who held that job threw away all the files I left in that desk.

Anyway, this 6" stack of files has been following me around for many years (almost certainly not in keeping with the standard policy on record retention).

Today, I was clearing out my files, knowing that most of what I had in there is not going to be useful or used. Making huge piles for the recycle bins.

And there they were. Letters from the grieving mothers. Obituary notices and Mass cards. Faxes and legal advice.

I had labeled the first of the files "One Time" meaning, "this isn't EVER going to happen again." But there was a "One Time II" for a different problem.

Something about keeping those files seemed really important to me.

Now, they are gone. I've put them in the shredder (I had a little cry, first, for all the tragedy and stress and worry of them.)

I will never read or need to read them again. It's time to walk away from those old, scary times. It's time to walk away from this place.

There's been a lot of good here, and some bad.

Either way, it's time to open my hands and let it all go.

(or, it will be time, in 7 days).

 

 

WorldFest on the Square, Denton

Lined up for flag parade!!

 

Opening ceremony, UNT African Dance Ensemble 

  photos by David Minton, Denton Record-Chronicle

Yesterday's festivities for the WorldFest on the Square started with a parade of nations and moved into introductions of each country's flag and its bearer; many of them accompanied by local Brownie Scouts in uniform.  Then dancing by UNT's African Ensemble, speeches by the university president, Mayor of Denton, Consul General of Mexico in Dallas, and others.  There were three hours of great performances by international students...from a Japanese band (for whom I must find a CD!), tango dancers, Thai and Korean traditional dancing,

We had booths featuring countries from every region of the world, with a passport that visitors to the booths could get stamped after learning about the countries.  There was international food to enjoy: Thai, Indian, Korean, and Peruvian.  We partnered with organizers of Friday night's Fiesta on the Square, an established event that afforded us much assistance and excellent advice.   We had sponsor booths there from the outreach group of a local Catholic church, Visual Arts Society of Denton, Girl Scouts, 2010 Census, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Opening Doors Immigration Services, and more. 

Must give props to the weather, which was gorgeous; the Courthouse on the Square, which provided a lovely, shady space under huge spreading pecan trees; the Courthouse Museum, which was open for our browsing pleasure and graciously allowed us to use its restrooms!  Tremendous amounts of hard work by the organizers, volunteers, lots of students. 

It was a great way for UNT to bring a lot of what we already do out to the community.  We will be doing it again!!