I had, before going out this morning, put “Call EL” on my list of things to do. As I did this, I thought that the sheer act of writing down that I needed to make a phone call was really pathetic. Generally, people don’t write this sort of thing on lists of things to do. This is because they are on the phone multiple times a day. Not me. I talk on the phone at the very most, three times a week.
So, I had to switch gears and postpone eating breakfast for a bit. There really was not a more convenient time to talk to El. I had, in a manner of speaking, to switch gears.
As I get older, switching gears is taking more effort. By this I mean that I first am cognizant of the fact that I’m doing this, and then cognizant of the fact that I am doing it. Switching tracks is also more difficult in the morning, when I am figuring out what my day will entail. Today, it seemed, was one in which I had a number of disparate tasks to tend to, both inside and out.
And so, once I switched gears and picked up the phone, I was on the differing track, or so I thought.
El wanted to talk about our upcoming trip itinerary. We are going to San Francisco together – this is going to be a sister trip. I am so looking forward to this, as is she. We’ll spend two days at Pete’s sister Sara’s place and two days in the city. I can’t think of anyone else who I’d rather travel with. And I have my fingers crossed that this goes well and that in the future we can do more trips together.
I had not thought for a few days about the itinerary, and when I looked at the calendar with its multiple scribbles, I suddenly felt overwhelmed. So I handed the phone and calendar to Pete and he did some clarification. I then went upstairs because the downstairs phone crackles.
I talked with El for a while – had I remained on the other track, I would have cut the conversation short. But by now I was firmly on the track that at that moment I most wanted and needed to be on.
I sometimes think that if I became seriously ill for, say, a short length of time, that my priorities would change. And what I’d then realize would be that what I think is important really is not.
Talking with El did get my day off to a good start because it put my mind in trip mode. I now will start thinking about the things I’d like to do in San Francisco.
Next: 81. 3/22/18: When Your Days are Your Own |