Beep beep beep beep…there is a noise coming from the cockpit
of the plane. Beep beep beep beep. As the pilot, it’s my job to find the source
and fix the problem. Beep beep beep
beep. It must be engine trouble. The sound gets louder, we’re rapidly
descending… I frantically fidget with
buttons and dials and levers and switches, to no avail. “MAY DAY! MAY DAY! WE’RE GOING DOWN!!!”, I
scream!
I come to. The plane
doesn’t crash but instead I roll over and clumsily bat my hand against my phone
finally having realized what that awful noise was…It finally stops, if only
momentarily. My brain takes in the
reality of the situation. It is 7:00 and
I have to be somewhere at 9. There are
several things that need to happen in the next 2 hours…I need to get up and
shower, brush my teeth, feed the dogs, potty the dogs, feed myself, go down to
the basement and get clean clothes out of the dryer. I also like to journal for 20 minutes in the
morning before I do anything else. There
is also a 30 minute drive to contend with.
I snooze the alarm and roll back over. Five minutes later I am startled again…beep
beep beep beep. , Damn noise. Do I really have to get up? What do I have to do again? Taking stock…Journal, shower, teeth, laundry,
feed dogs, feed myself, bathroom for myself and the dogs, drive. Beep beep beep beep. Another five minutes lost. Grrroooaaaaannnnn. I am far too old to stay up so late.
Before I know it 20 minutes are gone, then 30 then 45. At this point I start to prioritize my
morning list of crap to do. Ok, what can
I lose? Journaling…absolutely. Who needs that? Not me.
Not today. That’s the first thing
to go. What else? Breakfast…I certainly
can get by until lunch. Beep beep beep
beep! Crap! I must’ve fallen back to sleep. It’s now almost 8am. Reevaluating…ok how dirty am I? Do I really
need that shower? Let’s see here… I had
one 2 days ago…I am not that dirty…and
it’s not a take-off-my-clothes doctors appointment…so it’s all good. I just saved myself at least 20 minutes and
bought myself another 5 since, I am not showering, I no longer need clean
clothes from the dryer. Score! 8:10…still in bed. Let’s see what else can go? Brushing teeth can happen in the car. Easy.
This is exactly why a
toothbrush and paste is kept there. My good
friend Justin Case suggested that to me years ago and I am firmly convinced in
the practice…everyone should do it. That
Justin, he is such a handy guy to have around!
He’s always so well prepared… Ok,
so all that’s left is going to the bathroom for myself and the dogs…yeah it’s
kind of hard to skip that. Luckily it
doesn’t take long. 8:25am, roll out of
bed. Find the cleanest-dirty articles of
clothing from the floor, clean undies from the drawer and race to the
bathroom. Fifteen-second baby wipe bath
for the important anatomy places before getting dressed. 8:28am… totally on schedule. Crap!
I forgot to feed the dogs. But that’s
ok, because I have food for both of them in the car! Whew! Grab
keys, leash dogs, lock house, to the car as fast as my
healing-but-still-somewhat-injured ankle will go, let the dogs pee.
 |
| My trail run up to the car. |
8:30, start van, drive away. Right
on time!!! Drive half a mile down
the road only to discover that I left my phone…CRAP! I can’t function without it. Turn around…drive the half mile back to the
house. Park, hobble down the trail,
unlock the door…now where did I leave it?
 |
| My trail run back to the cabin to get my phone |
In the bathroom! Of course! 8:36am, relock the door and run myself back
up the trail to the van…the dogs are so confused and I am getting more exercise
than I have had in a year! 8:38 and I am
once again on my way, 8 minutes behind schedule. That’s ok, they are never on time at the
surgeon’s office anyway and the 30 minute drive time is generous to start
with. I brush my teeth while driving, it’s
a talent and a skill! I roll into Dr. Allen’s office at 9:03…Not
bad! My ever-so-punctual friend Justin
Time would be so proud.
No comments:
Post a Comment