In theory I should be cool, calm,
and collected. If I'm truly "retired"
then that means I'm not working
and hence in theory have no real
responsibilities. Yet unfortunately
nothing could be farther from the
truth. My friends who trod this path
prior warned me and were right -
I'm busier than I've ever been and
then some! In fact I can't seem to
keep on schedule and up with all
of the demands of my theoretical
life of leisure. I'm an utter mess.
There's a song in the fifties musical
Pajama Game. A time management
expert bemoans the convoluted ways
he saves time like brushing his teeth
in the shower. Things aren't that bad
but often the day is practically over
before I finally get a chance to take
a shower. While I once dreamed of
leisurely hours steaming away under
a hot spigot - I'm lucky if I'm wet for
less than five minutes every other
day. Well, things could be worse -
at least I'm trying to clean up my act.
I wish the same cleanliness applied
to my eyewear. Sadly most of the
time it appears as if I'm in a fog or
blizzard conditions. Mother Nature
has nothing to do with my inability
to see clearly. Sadly I simply forgot
to clean my specs. The resulting haze
is another indication of my inability
to keep up with the simplest of tasks.
Even when I was working a twelve
hour day I was able to occasionally
spritz my lenses. Maybe I should
wear them while I'm in the shower...
Then there are my shoes. We all know
my affection for all things Italian. Yet
sadly my tootsies are rather lackluster
these days. Not due to a lack of options
to slip into but rather because they no
longer shine like they used to. While
my to-do list includes brogue buffing
I never spit and polish. Hence when I
run out of the door my feet are dull at
best. If only there was a shoe shine
boy within a two hundred mile radius.
Not likely as cowboys seem to prefer
lots of dust on their boots. YEE HAW!
If nothing else I'm a confused man on
a mission. Today I ran into the grocer
to pick up some last minute things. As
usual I was self consumed and walked
past my dear friend "A." Fortunately
she prodded me out of my coma and
soon we were hugging in front of the
organic produce. A few unplanned
minutes chuckling with a friend were
a welcome respite from life's worries.
Then suddenly reality hit and I had to
ask myself... why did I come here and
what was I supposed to get?
Late this afternoon I realized Easter
is THIS Sunday. Quick like a bunny
I hopped to it and gathered my eggs.
You see - if my granddaughter hopes
to enjoy her loot she has to first get
it. Given I live quite far away it is
usually wise to ship in advance. As
that clearly did not happen I had to
fill said basket, box it up, and rush
over to the Post Office prior to the
Express Mail deadline. Happily this
pesky wabbit made it under the wire
and it should arrive by Good Friday.
Finding the time to write my daily
missive in the middle of my mania
is troublesome at best. However
somehow I do it. While I at times
question whether anybody reads it,
something or someone reminds me
that it is not for naught. While at
the Post Office I requested more
of those Janice Joplin stamps. The
lady behind the counter replied
"They're all gone - we had a rush
on them after your last blog." Proof
that some of my time is well spent.
