My first job was in data processing. The night shift gave me the day to enjoy the city. I mounted magnetic tape onto drives as tall I was. It was a job that begged to be automated. That was long ago. Like Sisyphus, I can still see myself mounting those tapes only to take them down again.
My walk to work led past the Art Institute. I spent an hour each afternoon wandering through the exhibits. I can still see some of them.
One of the benefits of membership, at least in those days, long ago, in what I would even call the mysterious dark ages of my life, was the free coffee that the Institute offered in the afternoon. I became a regular around four in the afternoon with a dozen retirees who were always there and a few strangers who might wander in some afternoon and whom we would never see again. I can still taste that coffee.
Through daydreams blow the breeze of memory.
When shadows break I look and sometimes see.
Text: Linked to dVerse Haibun Monday. Jilly is hosted with the challenge to the traditional form.
Photos: “Blue and Green”, above, and “Red and Green”, below.
Fine memories of magnetic memories. It was like watching a dance, seeing the tapes go round. A reel I suppose!
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Good way of putting it. They spun like a dance although I didn’t think of them like that at the time. Thank you, Peter!
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The AIC and coffee! The stuff of dreams, Frank. (How I miss the Institute.) The breeze of memory – what a beautiful line in a charming write.
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Thank you, Jilly! And thank you for the prompt to modify the haibun in some way.
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My pleasure!
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I remember mounting those tapes. I think I’d retreat for coffee too.
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It was mind-numbing work although mostly mental work. Thank you, Dan!
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It is wonderful when your memories are so sweetly shared. A terrific slice of your life, and a haibun to cheer about.
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Thank you, Glenn! Organizing memories into some written form feels refreshing. I can see why people write memoirs.
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Fine memories indeed Frank.
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Thank you, Linda!
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I always say thank goodness for memories; they transport us and awaken even the sense of taste.. like in your case , coffee.
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I am amazed how vividly I can remember something like that coffee that happened decades ago. Thank you, Vivian!
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😊
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Thank you for the personal share of those days Frank ~ A free coffee is always welcomed, smiles ~
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It also tasted very good. Thank you, Grace!
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I was told by an old techie once about going through the university in Computer Science — boxes of perforated cards. He dropped more than one project on the floor and had to collate them by hand. The good old days!
I, too, miss the Institute. One time I walked from MBI on LaSalle over to Michigan and down to the Institute — spent several hours going through the exhibits — then walked back again. Never had the coffee, though. Pity.
Your end couplet is wonderful!
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I remember using those punch cards when in college. Programs were kept in boxes rather than in the cloud. And they did next to nothing. I haven’t been to the Art Institute in many years. Thinking about it makes me want to take the day off and see it again. The coffee was very good as I remember. Nothing like the instant I was drinking at home. I am glad you liked the couplet, Charley!
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🙂
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I’m glad I never did the punch cards. A friend asked me if I wanted to one time. It did look mind-numbing. I was a plate maker instead.. The verse was wonderful. I hope I can remember it long enough, “Through daydreams blow the breeze of memory. When shadows break I look and sometimes see.” Need those breezes!
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We all need those breezes of memory. Thank you, Mark!
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😊
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I love your bit of nostalgia. Was the coffee good coffee? Your zinnias are beautiful.
dwight
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The coffee was very good. Besides I was drinking instant in those days which is easy to beat. Thank you, Dwight!
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You are right about that!
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“the breeze of memory” – lovely phrase!
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I am glad you liked that phrase. Thank you, Jo!
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‘the mysterious dark ages of my life’… I fully relate to that image or feeling…sounds like a satisfying routine you had taking in art and hanging out for coffee.
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It was a pleasant routine even with the mind numbing work. It lasted more than a year when I moved on. Thank you, Janice!
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I remember those tapes, too, and punch cards! What a contrast between mounting tapes and exploring the Art Institute.
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If it weren’t for that job mounting the tapes I would not have even seen the Art Institute. So I am grateful for that job in many ways. Thank you, Kim!
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kaykuala
with a dozen retirees
who were always there
It can be dubbed a retirees’ retreat especially when it supports those numbers og retirees
Hank
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Looking back today I can better imagine what those retires must have thought of me at the time. Thank you, Hank!
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It was so pleasant, and delightful, I feel content at heart from reading this. What a great way to spend time, hanging around art exhibits. I must say living in a neighborhood as such is a blessing!
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I didn’t always see it as a blessing, but looking back, it was. Thank you, Jay!
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You are welcome, l
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Long hours of boredom punctuated by art and free coffee. How we survived the tedium. Well done.
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The art and coffee, perhaps especially the coffee after a while, make the tedium go away. Thank you!
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So welcome, Frank.
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At least you had coffee and art in those “dark ages”…thanks for sharing your memories and photos!
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They were dark ages, but the coffee tasted great. Thank you, Lynn!
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Truly an important season in your life..thanks for sharing the memory.
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It was important without my realizing just how important. Thank you, Kathy!
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I really like your memory of your data entry job…one of my first, too. Ugh. But I love your haiku at the end. Speaks volumes.
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I am glad you liked that. It was my attempt to be unconventional. Thank you, Jane!
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Through daydreams blow the breeze of memories…….I absolutely ADORE this phrase! 🙂
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I am glad you liked that phrase, Lillian! Thank you!
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You make me feel so young… when it was time for me, most every tape were gone… I think we used cassettes in handy little drives for backup…
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That was in the early 1970s. It is amazing how things have changed. Thank you, Bjorn!
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My first contact with computers was 10 years later…
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Love the story, Frank! And you referenced coffee in your haibun! Great minds think alike! LOL!
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Coffee is my favorite drink. Thank you, Frank!
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How nice that you can still smell the coffee, and wander through the memories.
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It surprises how the memory of that taste lingers over the decades. Thank you, Sara!
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I really enjoyed this haibun. It took me back to the jobs I had when I was young. Reel to reel tape recordings were something I used quite often.
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A friend of mine had a reel to reel tape recording machine. That brings back other memories. Thank you, Suzanne!
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Oh, I am so envious–being able to spend time in the Art Institute every day! The season of memories is a place I visit often, a symptom of having a lot of them!
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It is good to have such memories. Although I remember much of the art, the taste of that coffee dominates. Thank you, Victoria!
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Data
Records
P H D’eD
Piled Higher Deeper
Standing Taller
BounD
As
BinDS
FAllen
ArT RiSeS HiGHeR..:)
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Good description of PHD: piled higher deeper. Thanks, Fred!
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My Father
Told me
That
One First..:)
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I remember those tapes, but glad I didn’t have your job, although your routine sounds great. Amazing you can still taste that coffee, so great.
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That was a different time, but still memorable. Thank you!
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This is beautiful, Frank. I love the “mysterious dark ages” (as I relate too well) and how the free coffee contrasted them: something so warm and timeless.
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I am amazed sometimes how I got from those dark ages to now which might be dark ages for a future time. Thank you, Amaya!
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Great story, and must have been some fine coffee…
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It was very good coffee, but I was drinking instant at home. Thank you, Rob!
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Art and free coffee too! What could be better? (K)
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They do go together. Thank you, Kerfe!
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