Swept from the corners of my mind…
I’ve had an awesome summer, and it is not over yet.
I never have enough time and/or energy during the school year to do everything on my list. My day starts with feeding parrots and pets, goes through driving into town for work, working all day at a job that’s fun but makes my brain tired, shopping, driving home, chores, household duties, etc. Nothing major.
I no longer have kids to ferry 8 days a week or meetings to attend. But the allure of changing out of town clothes into chore ones and getting tasks done is seldom a siren call. Often I read a chapter or ten of a good book and then it is time for bed. So Summer, I declare, is when I shall get those extra tasks done.
For the last several years, though, there have been roadblocks to a good summer. One year my well collapsed. The backwash sent pounds and pounds of sludgy mud through my pipes and into appliances. Due to long comedy of errors I had to get two new wells within a few days, and then there was a major plumbing issue that kept me flushing the toilet with a pail for weeks.
One year I was recovering from cancer surgery. For a few years I wrestled with ankle surgeries. One summer my husband was ill and passed away. Others I was exhausted, only to find out I was anemic. And then there were the summers when I was a supervisor so even though I technically had time off, I had to keep checking in, do hirings, and so on.
But enter this summer. I and Mine are healthy. I planned my workdays to take advantage of making the break longer. There are no obligatory big deals on the calendar, but there was a chance to go to a Renaissance Faire, enjoy visiting relatives, and even hang out with my grandson. In between there were long strings of open days where I could do those things I’ve been putting off.
This summer I planned on finishing the baseboards in the living room, washing walls, changing and washing down the parrot cages daily, reviving the flower gardens, putting up paintings, and so on. Nothing major but all contributing to a more comfortable home in which to lounge and read.
It should have been simple.
I tend to wake up around 7:30, so I could amble through morning chores and by ten I could take on one Big Task. It would likely be done mid-afternoon leaving time for leisure activities. I could play with the horses, do some crafting, visit friends… the world could be my oyster.
What I have done, however, was not on the list. It turns out I function much better when my time is scheduled. As I often joke, I need a T-shirt that warns, “Does Not Transition Well.” If there’s no definite need to do something at a particular time, it likely won’t get done on time, or at all.
Parrots and dogs are hungry in the morning, so they get fed. Horses need watered. Lawn needs mowed, but all those one-off jobs like painting of building new gardens? Not so much.
The problem is I went from having more than enough structure in my day to having none. There’s always tomorrow available to do something if I don’t feel like it today. Those baseboards in the living room? Meh. It’s not like I’m selling the place. It doesn’t need done today.
Deep cleaning all the vehicles? Meh. My back is sore and I don’t feel like lugging things about.
Painting the kitchen? Well, first I need to wash the walls in there AND the living room, so…Meh. Tomorrow.
And let’s not forget that these flexible days occasionally cause me to lose track of the date, so the few things that are necessary—medical appointments, column submissions, and so on—are threatened by my inattention and deadlines are missed.
This week we transition to August. Will the pressure of returning to work in 2 weeks get me back on track? Will the baseboards get put down and the new curtains hung? Will the deck get painted or the carpets cleaned? Only time will tell.
Cathy Bendle finds humor in the quirks of everyday life, from training teachers to dodging housework. When not writing, she’s either laughing at her pets, frantically Googling for her work assignments, or playing on her iPad.
