Catching Up

I am usually quite organized and on top of things. I have my plan (a list sorted by due date, priority, and type of task), and I work that plan diligently. Intermingled with mom-tasks, like doing puzzles or learning to tell time with Katherine or helping Patrick with homework, I have small chunks of the day when I work on that task list. I am usually pretty disciplined about this process and often err on the side of task-master. I rely heavily on a little PDA that holds my task list. Frankly, it holds everything; task list, contact list, calendar, and shopping lists. It even holds pictures, my budget, my Bible, and diversionary tools (tech talk for video games).

It's called a Palm Pilot and I think that's a pretty good name because sometimes it IS the pilot...not me. I like to think that I am in control of my day, but there are those days when it is clearly the Pilot flying the plane of my life. It tells me when to get up in the morning. It tells me where I have to be and when, and for whom (for very few things on my calendar are actually just for me). It tells me what I am supposed to get done today, who I'm supposed to call, what I need at the store, and how much money I have left on my budget this month. If this thing had a heartbeat and walked on two legs I would tell it to buzz off because I don't like being told what to do.

Yet here I am sitting at my computer trying to catch up on paperwork, returning calls, preparing a talk, and tying up loose ends. And who's calling the shots? That's right - Palm Pilot. I guess I'm okay with that. It doesn't ask for much, just a charge every couple days. It's small and doesn't take up much space. And it doesn't argue with me (most of the time) or talk back. It's quiet (except at 6:00 AM) and it does a pretty decent job of keeping me organized and out of trouble. I suppose, truth be told, its best quality is located on the top right corner of its casing. This feature allows me to have the last word - something I don't always get in this house - and puts me back in the pilot seat. It's called the Power Button. It gives me the power to turn it off and let life dictate what I should do right now. Maybe that means I get to sit and do this puzzle (again) or just sit on the floor and color.

Sometimes a task is a vital step in accomplishing a worthwhile goal - like coordinating meals for a mom friend. Sometimes a task is just a task and will still be there later.

Time for me to draw this to a close. Mr. Pilot is calling.