A Day Off
I was looking forward to my day off. That night, my workroom’s “To-Do Bulletin Board” was blank. I had nothing planned the next day.
I woke up the following day after somewhat of a restless night’s sleep. I had a few random dreams of no consequence. However, my concerns about real life had filled my mind. For example, I hadn’t started working on my taxes yet; they were almost due.
The first thing I did when I woke up was write a post-it note, “Do Taxes,” and put it on my To-Do board.
I also thought about the email I received about our planned trip. I had to get back to that agent, and that was added to the board.
As I began to make breakfast, I noticed a set of unopened bills on the table. I hoped the due date hadn’t passed. They got tacked up, too.
I started eating breakfast when I realized I was supposed to make reservations at Fifth Season restaurant for our anniversary. I needed a reminder to do that. While I’m on the subject of our anniversary, I still haven’t purchased a gift or a card for it. I’m pretty sure it’s tomorrow.
Didn’t my daughter have play rehearsal after school today? I better make a note to pick her up.
The phone rang while I was washing the breakfast dishes. It was my boss. He wanted to know where the Cooper file was and had I finished writing up the Off-Week statistics report. He needed both for a presentation to the CEO by 3 o’clock. I said that shouldn’t be a problem. Just in case, I put a reminder note and a copy of the report on the To-Do board.
It wasn’t even 10 a.m. yet. I noticed a note from my wife on the counter, reminding me to go shopping with a list of ingredients I knew could not be purchased at the same store. That would mean going to Target, Stop and Shop, and Uncle Giuseppe’s. That was not a short trip. She didn’t mention why we needed all that food, but I suspect it had to do with our anniversary. I couldn’t forget that; I put it on the board.
Today was Wednesday. Right? That meant it was dust and vacuum the house day. How could I forget that? I would have if I didn’t write it down and post it.
By 11 o’clock, I had accomplished nothing other than to fill up my blank To-Do Bulletin Board; there were no blank spaces to be had.
I was beginning to question whether or not this was, indeed, a day off.
As I stood in front of the board, I tried to focus. How was I going to accomplish all of this in one day?
I needed another day off.