Post-Steemfest Musings in the middle of the night
Posting in Koh Chang where I arrived on Monday with bunch of other Steemians. First night I slept like a baby: 12 hours, which is probably my record for a single night. Still being in Thailand and hanging out with Steemians, the post-Steemfest blues is not quite as severe as it would be should I have exchanged Thailand immediately for cold dark November Finland. I don't actually know how the weather is back home, but I actually hope it's in minus degrees. It might sound counterintuitive, but it's better if the snow sticks around, instead of it being just above freezing where it's just moist and cold. I don't miss that, but it is a bit of a bummer I missed my grandfather's funeral which was actually during Steemfest. Death doesn't ask for timing though - the trip was planned well ahead before his passing. Somehow I didn't think about it much during the event, but I suppose now at 3 am is a good time to meditate on that.
I didn't take much pictures with my phone, probably not enough even with my camera, but creating content during such an intense event comes with an opportunity cost, for me at least. Doesn't take much time to snap a picture or two, especially selfies that are so fun to see afterwards, but I feel it still shifts my attention from the moment to the future when there's already enough things to pay attention to in the present; you can never have all the talks you wished to have with all the Steemians.
Dad sent me this picture where his father was 25.
I never actually was close to my grandfather, due to the distance we had lived apart for most of my life. That's more of an excuse though, because during the last year I visited Lieksa (where he lived) three times. Some of my relatives have barely seen each others despite living in the same town. It's just a matter of priorities. We are very creative bullshitting ourselves and sometimes go to a great lengths to ease our cognitive dissonance with it. Why does someone's death suddenly make you so sad, if you had barely seen him/her? Effectively, nothing has changed in your immediate surroundings where the deceased one wasn't in the first place. Maybe it is your own choices you mourn over rather than the death itself, because you are the one that still has to live with yourself and your choices, choices you can never take back now that the one that you had an impact on is dissolved and never coming back.
A bit heavy? Might be, but I can't really come up with cheers, because it's so obvious to me how amazing Steemfest was. The food, the people - all of it.
And hugs, especially hugs. For why I think @arcange's concept of proof-of-hug is genius. Special thanks for @roelandp and the volunteer team who again provided such an unforgettable event. Not to forget all the sweet and kind Thai waiters and waitresses who kept us well fed and liquefied at all times. It was a unique opportunity to get to chat even with the Steemit Inc staff, and what I can tell, is that they are very serious on delivering something actual and not just promises anymore. Wide adoption is still on their aim, and with Communities and SMTs, it should be a step closer to reality. It's going to be an exciting year.
Big hug for you all ♥
To listen to the audio version of this article click on the play image.
Brought to you by @tts. If you find it useful please consider upvoting this reply.
Seems like you had a great time. Someday I hope to get to one. I guess it’s difficult for people to understand within having gone to one of these events.
Hey, question for you...You work for the postal service in FIN right? I heard there is a postal strike. What’s the proposed time on that because @smallsteps is going to want her Christmas presents from Australia. Any idea?
Posted using Partiko iOS
Yeah, I looked it up and it seems that packages from outside of Finland can arrive a bit later. No certainty of how long the strike lasts though.
Ok, cool. Thanks for that.
Posted using Partiko Android
Hi @celestal!
Your post was upvoted by @steem-ua, new Steem dApp, using UserAuthority for algorithmic post curation!
Your UA account score is currently 4.489 which ranks you at #2182 across all Steem accounts.
Your rank has not changed in the last three days.
In our last Algorithmic Curation Round, consisting of 89 contributions, your post is ranked at #3. Congratulations!
Evaluation of your UA score:
Feel free to join our @steem-ua Discord server
Cheers man! So sorry for your loss, despite the distance, it never is easy.
Hope that getting to spend some more time with the community will cheer you up!
Thanks. The island afterchill has been quite nice.
Congratulations @celestal!
Your post was mentioned in the Steem Hit Parade in the following category:
Big hug for you too @celestal <3 Death makes us think and feel reflective, and I'm sorry you lost your grandfather and couldn't be there for yourself and your family. SteemFest sounds like another great event and I'm going to be there again next year - I hope the next 12 months go by as quickly as the last 12 - I still can't believe SF3 was a year ago and SF4 has already passed. Shocked face emoji.
Enjoy all the adventures you're still going to have - the winter in Finland is long, don't bother coming back a day too soon :P
Winter I don't mind when there's proper snow, but skipping this November transitioning phase is nice :)
Oh! I am really sorry to hear of the lost of your grandfather. I never knew my grandfathers as they passed away way before I was born.
But I do understand how that feels when you suddenly decided to shift your priority for someone and somehow, it was the right thing to do.
Before my only uncle (from my dad's side) passed away, that very year I actually had 3 meals with him too. The sudden decision to just spend a little more quality time with him and my parents since he has no children; and he loved us (in his own way) as dearly as he could possibly expressed.
Maybe this is how the universe works; when you start to pay attention.
It was really wonderful to meet you and your presence truly made a huge change especially the "mushroom dance".
Hope to see you again!
Was nice to meet you, too! Hopefully next year, if I can make it (not sure because of school).
Let's keep working towards there and see what happens by then. haha.
Sorry to hear about your grandfather. I can relate to it not being as bad as it could be due to not being so close and visiting often, physical distance has a way of making us feel distant in other ways too.
How high up in the ranks do you have to be in the postal office to make the whole damn place go to strike because you run off to Steemfest!?
Would you please hug everyone for me while in Koh Chang♥️
You never miss the good worker until he's gone 😎
Will do ❤️
You look a lot like your Grandfather, @celestal. We can only do what we can do. Realize every day is to make the best of, and cherish each.
I have 1000's of photos from STEEMFest. I overtake since I cannot comprehend while in the moment. but 70% will be immediately deleted and many more after a second look. Only a few are the moments to keep close in my heart.
Glad you are at the beach. Best move ever.
So many good moments, I'm glad you got some captured!
So sorry about your grandfather
I did take pictures but there are days that I just wanted to be present and not whipping out my phone to capture everything
It kinda dilutes the presence some
So totally understand you wanted to just immerse in the now
But your mushroom dance will forever be on the blockchain thanks to waybe :D
Til the next time... :D
The official Steemfest dance ;)