I have a good life but sometimes I need
to be reminded to appreciate it. This
year we’ve been remodeling and since hubby and I were both sick on and off through January and February things got off
schedule.
Then March arrives and I get a
summons for jury duty. VIMH (voice in my
head) stirs, ‘now is not a good time for this’.
I am excited about an art show coming up in April but getting ready is
always hectic. Hubby, who usually helps get
me through the chaos, is sick again and working overtime shifts seven days a
week so I’m on my own.
Check list...Do my chores, do
hubby’s chores, order cards, choose pieces to show, make inventory tags, coordinate
schedule for days I work show, answer emails about changes in schedule, work on
new artwork for the shows this summer. VIMH
laughs. Dogs knock only backup hard drive
off desk and break it. New stuff isn’t
backed up. Trip to town, half a day
wasted only minor crises number ??? from the last two weeks. VIMH sneers ‘but
who’s counting’. Plan trip to town day
before I report for jury duty to get groceries and run errands...VIMH whispers
‘just in case you get stuck on a trial’...early start, long exhausting day...when
VIMH warns ‘you know what happens when you get over tired’ I ignore it.
Countdown...Spend the morning of
shopping trip making lists of where to
go, what to buy, and phone calls to make when I get home...(call courthouse
(after 5) for instructions...call car dealership about notation about my breaks
on paperwork from my last oil change...no one said a word to me). VIMH again ‘you rely on your car and don’t
have time for this.’ I leave for town in
the sunshine...I get home in the rain and wind of a spring storm. The clocks are blinking and my computer is
off (it was on when I left). I Fix the clocks check the computer (remember
no backup) put away groceries and start
dinner. Hubby gets home. Go to make phone calls while dinner’s
cooking.
PHONE IS DEAD......MELTDOWN
We don’t get a cell signal out here. It’s late, I’m tired and by now I am in
tears. Hubby gets out the phone we use
when we have a power outage, plugs it in and hands it to me...dial tone working
fine. The wireless just has a dead
battery. Reality Check...VIMH ‘all this stress, all this worry just because
I got a Jury summons...what was I thinking’?
The next day I sat on a hard plastic chair for two hours then was told to
go home. I didn’t have to come back......
I have a good life. I am lucky to live where I do (in this
country), express my voice through my art and complain about anything I want to
and sometimes I need a reminder to be patient and take part in the things that
make my good life possible.
As my son so aptly put it into
perspective when he face booked me after I complained about my jury summons......
”Go
America...and
bring a book.”
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