So Little to Do; So Much Time to Do It

Somehow I have nothing to do and can’t find the time to do it. I’m not sure how this happened. For thirty-four years, I had classes to teach, papers to grade, children to raise, occasional lunch dates, exercise classes to attend. I was organized because I had to be. I planned what I was going to wear the next day during the drive home from that day’s work. I started loads of laundry before I left, so I could put them in the dryer when I got home and fold them before it was time to sit down in front of the TV for a couple of hours to relax before going to bed, so I could get up and do it all again the next day. I reserved time on the weekends for paper grading, bigger house hold chores, and some kind of entertainment. I did my class preps in the car on the way into work. I was busy. In other words, I had a life.

Every other Friday, after I’d gotten paid, I sat down and wrote out the bills. I did the grocery shopping for the week, making sure I had everything I needed by jotting some things down on a list, and most weeks I remembered to take the list with me. I walked aisle by aisle, so I could see every category and possibly remember something I had forgotten.

I fell asleep at night thinking of what I needed to do the next day. I even planned my free time, making dates for lunch or for trips to see relatives. I had vacations and holidays to look forward to that required planning my lessons around. I looked forward to days off. I spent time doing housework and then sitting and reading for pleasure as a reward. I had…