The grand B&W experiment

I have never experimented with the B&W film setting on my camera; to date, my only B&W photos were a result of processing. I want to take B&W pictures only for a while, and see what I learn.

I am trying hard to unplug. I got rid of all of my social media (including Researchgate, to which I may return at some point). I have kept a FB account which I don't check (I only use the messenger app), created for my for my past students. It's a good way for them to contact me when they need job recommendations, etc.

As I was moving recyclables into a designated green plastic bag to be picked up by the city, I cut my finger on the lid from a can of pineapple juice LM uses to make frozen popsicles. The cut was deep. Blood gushed everywhere as I frantically looked for something reasonably clean to apply to the wound. I settled on one of the clean flour-sack towels I use around the kitchen; I bleach them regularly, so it was (kinda) sterile, I hoped. The dogs were confused. I searched for first aid supplies in the bathroom; came up short. I finally ripped open one of LM's scouting first-aid kits, which supplied me with the right-sized band-aids. I kept the pressure on the wound quite a bit longer before I dared to remove the towel and put on a band-aid, wrapping it tightly.

I was struck by the "reality" of the situation. I was home alone, bleeding heavily out of my dominant hand. It was a real problem, that really needed to get addressed, fast. I felt my heart pump harder, my thinking in the problem-solving mode. And then it was solved. My heart slowed down. All was well.

The kicker? I recognized this "emergency" mode as very familiar, as I often feel it in situations that do NOT involve loosing blood rapidly. Often linked to some online drama, or an "emergency" at work (hint: no babies EVER die in educational psychology department).

I need to change how I exist in the world. I need to go back in time, to that moment, when I read, and wrote, and cooked, and walked, and swam. Oh, and took pictures, deliberately, every day.  :- )