Calendar Chaos

It is January. I am already anxious. I read a helpful guide written by Martha Stewart. I keep articles that will provide guidance and a calming influence. First, she recommended taking January off to prepare your personal calendar. Now that is heady goal setting! Planning for 2009 is not something to be taken lightly. Planning the schedule for the year will “eliminate confusion, double booking or forgetting key experiences.” She had my attention. One should schedule dog cuts, hair cuts, nail cuts, lawn cuts, driveway repair, rock repair, garden cleanup and fertilizing --- to name but a few. Dinners, theater seats, and special events will assure a happy year. Doctor appointments, check ups, bike repair, shoe repair, utility repair, all done in advance -- look, no worries. Martha's planning is impressive.

I am afraid it is too late for me. No wonder I am anxious. My washing machine breaks down totally disregarding the scheduled visit from the repairperson. My kids never needed a physician on a planned visit. They always threw up early Friday evening when the only thing on the calendar was a babysitter. My calendar was often under the direction of soccer coaches, bandleaders, quick trips to the orthodontist when the wires broke, emergency grocery store runs, sudden snowstorms, neighbors needing a ride and teacher conferences.

Maybe that is why Martha can do this calendar stuff. It is her calendar, her schedule, and her life. My 2009 calendar is a gala of events- a cafeteria of experiences, hastily scribbled-- brightly colored--- and sometimes realigned with White Out. My calendar is a diary--- an adventure that every week writes its own story. With wisdom, courage, and hope I look at January. I look forward to the dramatic changes, the unknowns, snatched moments with loved ones, and the good sense to celebrate the ordinary. Hey Martha--- hang on to your hat. Someone said, “ Don’t plan too far ahead. Plan for surprises!”
Let's enjoy the ride.