Since I can no longer look forward to/reminisce on summer breaks from school, I've found other things to keep me going. As of late, that's been watching movies on VHS tapes. The Beyond (218 N. Dewey St., Eau Claire) is my dealer of choice, pictured. (Photo by Andrea Paulseth)

It’s back-to-school season, which means nothing to someone who does not have kids and is no longer in school (but does remind me of the student loan debt I have from it).

Well, maybe not nothing – it is a hint that the best season is finally coming back around (Fall), and that’s a dose of joy I’m more than eager for.

My nervous system has finally relaxed, months after completing what was essentially a year-long professional project that became a very personal one (did you see our documentary A Half-Century Home? You'll have another chance during Welcoming Week this September). Still, I find myself working after office hours and at home more than I should, with no summer break on the horizon or rear-view mirror.

But I’ve also found a new hobby in watching movies on VHS. Yes, like the VHS that come in plastic containers, get put into big clunky non-flat screen TVs by hand, and take up a lot more space than DVDs, let alone streaming services. It is absolutely beautiful.

We’ll probably look back in a couple generations and realize the digitization of everything was… a choice. And while I can’t give up my iPhone, I’ve been thrilled to feel great glimmers of nostalgia and happiness every time I put in a VHS tape and tuck in for a movie night.

(Recent watches have included Lord of the Rings, Reign of Fire, and Mulan, for those who want to know).

That’s my PG way of alluding to the chaos of the wider world, the politically-driven contention and whiplash in Wisconsin, and messy personal life – all of which I'm keeping at bay via VHS. It’s also my heads-up that this issue includes our “Back to School” special section, which if you’re reading in print, is another analog activity that is so much better for your brain. Trust me.