Time is such a strange thing. Sometimes it seems to rush by in a whoosh, while at other times it seems to creep by slowly as if it is hardly moving at all.

I think one of the strangest things about time, though, is how it becomes so distorted when something big happens.

We buried my father in law on Friday. During the calling on Thursday evening and Friday morning, I spent five hours catching up with people who came to pay their respects. Time seemed to stand still as we relived memories, hugged, and cried.

At the same time, my phone received constant and ever changing messages about school closure and preparedness. It was obvious that the world outside of the funeral home, church, and cemetery was moving at a frantic pace. Snap decisions were being made and changed repeatedly about school attendance, lesson planning, what would be waived/not waived, sporting events, traveling students…on and on and on.

I felt like my family was standing in the middle of a hurricane. Time was barely moving, if it moved at all. All around us was the swirling chaos of the current time. It was a strange feeling, and honestly, I felt a bit of comfort that I was not in the midst of the swirl at that time.

Now the funeral is over, and most of the school decisions have been made. Time feels as if it is settling back into a more normal pace. Granted, I am not on my normal daily routine, but time is no longer standing still or moving at breakneck speed. It feels more like Spring Break mode. Slower than normal, but steadily moving along. I can handle that.

I don’t know what is to come in the weeks ahead, but it will be interesting to notice how time feels in relation to it.