Yesterday Steve saw some of the lists in my Holiday Notebook. For the past few months I have kept a notebook with all the details of Thanksgiving - who's coming, what we're having, and things I need to get done before then. The ToDo list is a page and a half long, but it also includes time sensitive items, such as grocery shopping (which can't be done now, for example) and items that can be done right away, such as moving large furniture around.
The other side of my notebook is dedicated to Christmas, including gifts I need to get for every single person on the planet, where I might find these gifts, people I have no idea what to get, and my holiday card list. I have a ToDo list for Christmas, too, including when to get a tree, when to decorate it, when I should have all my shopping done by, etc.
The thing is, there is so little in my life I have any control over. I can't keep my kids from waking up at 5am. I can't get them to go to sleep at nap time. I can't tell how cool or hot it's going to be - 90 in October? Or 40 in September? I can't tell if it's going to be one of those calm afternoons, or if there will be lots of drink spilling and fighting and asking strange questions and begging me for things I can not possibly give them. Making lots of lists and being prepared gives me the illusion of being able to control some part of my life. I feel that, even if I were to drop off the face of the earth, some substitute Me could step in and successfully make Thanksgiving dinner, get all of my Holiday Shopping done, take the kids to visit Santa, make my hair appointment, and clean my house.
Applications for Substitute Me are now being accepted. Please submit short paragraph describing reasons for wanting to be me, and three references that can attest to your sanity. Thank you!
2 comments:
no one can replace you, kathleen. no one.
You're on my short list of 'Most equanimous human being alive' ... Ms. Congeniality in the flesh!
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