There were certain courses in high school that I never thought would have any practical applicability in my life.  Trigonometry was one of them.  Try as hard as he might, Mr. Steinbeck could NOT convince me that not only was Trig a worthwhile use of my time, but HONORS Trig was nothing short of a privilege afforded to only a chosen few.  I am still a little smug thinking about how I, for one of the first times in my life, stuck to my position and wasn’t wooed by the pretense of fame and fortune being dangled in the form of a math teacher’s dream.  

Physics was another one.  I just never thought I’d need to know the how and why about the way things work.  “They happen” worked for me.  Obviously I had never been faced with moving my household yet. 

A few years ago, when I was full of life and optimism and energy, I was finishing up my Masters, finalizing a divorce, and starting a new business.  I mentioned to a colleague that I was thinking of maybe selling my house too.  In a very calm voice – probably to hide the terror wanting to scream out to me – she proclaimed, “Moving takes a lot of energy”.  I believe this was my first Physics lesson that really made sense.

I am winding up a three week non-stop moving extravaganza this week when I turn over the keys to my big 7 bedroom home and can solely focus on finding room for the overwhelming amount of STUFF in my new 3 bedroom cape.  “Moving takes a lot of energy” is, I have found, an understatement!  On all levels- physical, emotional, mental – it is draining.  It’s also a good way to lose weight, although I won’t be trying it again anytime soon!! 

 In all of the angst and exhaustion, I have also had time to learn a bit more about Physics and other subjects I never thought would be applicable to my life.  Things about volume and leverage and how moving company employees are masters at both.  I’ve learned about angles and mass and the proper way to tilt mattresses to wind them around charming and impractical staircases.  How to apply enough force and use the banister as a lever when trying to lift the box spring up and into the house via a second floor patio door.  The force that is applied when one’s moving partner doesn’t know your hands have slipped off the dresser and its entire weight lands on your leg. 

But the greatest lesson I have learned is this:  Matter expands to fit the space.  Somehow over 16 years we managed to completely fill a very large house with a lot of not-so-much-needed stuff, a fact I believe my mother is now secretly saying “I told you so” to.  If you have the space, it will be filled.  It seems Zen qualities were not prevalent in my life until too late.  

 There is one area in which this principle took on a very special and profound meaning.  I learned that I if I created a space for people to help me, they did.  They filled up the void I created with humor and warmth and generosity of spirit.  It was a matter of my learning to open up and allow the rest to flow.  And Mary, Fran, Deborah, and Regina all came rushing in to give selflessly – a lesson that has had more of an impact on me that any honors class ever did.  I am amazed and truly grateful!!

Perhaps by the time I write next month’s essay I’ll even have a better idea where my pencil sharpener may be or where that special place was that I put my extra credit cards so I wouldn’t lose them.  I do know now that if I continue to apply those physics principles and create the space for more love and goodness to flow on in, it will.  I’m grateful to be able to learn my Physics lessons now, even if I couldn’t see their purpose back in high school. 

Honors Trig?  Still not seeing it….