It’s the last weekend in May and everything (I mean “everything”) you can possibly imagine is happening in a short period of time!  I’m breathless just mentally trying to figure out how to get it all done.

Those of us traveling the 2nd half of the journey tend to think that once the kids are grown (and out of our “hair” so to speak) and it’s just “us” - life will be more tranquil.  WRONG!  I think sometimes it gets even more complicated.  For me, with parents gone and daughter’s having reached a certain point of ‘chrono-maturity’; one would think that I could pack my days with what I need to do to move the passion and purpose forward.  WRONG, again.

Suddenly on this lovely May weekend, I feel utterly sandwiched between obligations to which I wouldn’t dare say “no”.  My mind goes to the 3 important meetings that occur next week over 3 consecutive days and all that must be done to be ready.  Then it flits back to how little time will be available on Saturday and Sunday, with high school awards & graduation & grad party for one of the g’children.  And to top it all off, one son-in-law is leaving the country for the first time for his job - leaving someone to assist with the children while mom works 2 weekend nights.

Whew!  Know how I feel?  Well, now I know how many of you feel!  Does it ever end?  I mean, is there ever a time in life when it gets less hectic?  I suppose as we grow much more ‘chrono-mature’, there will be more lazy days than hectic days.  But then will we long for the days when activities and stress ran off the charts?

I used to think that loads of phone calls in a day or back to back meetings meant I was succeeding at what I was doing.  That too is a myth.  I long for days when I don’t have to step out of the house except to collect the mail and can cuddle in my cozy cubbyhole office and let the rest of the world pass by.  There are times when I toy with the thought of not answering that call.

As I write this piece, it occurs to me that what my Mom used to say is pretty true - “this too shall end!”  She was highly organized and appeared to have it all under control (wrong again of course).  I try to emulate her but that causes more stress.

It is true!  The hectic activity will come to an end as the clock ticks on and what must be done will get done and what doesn’t may not matter.  So what if some of the crumbs fall from an overloaded plate?  As long as the crumbs that fall are not the essential ones!

For those of you reading this who are in the same boat as me for a few days; I suppose I should offer sage advice.  All I can muster is “make that list”; “check it twice” and then work our way through the list.  Prioritize each item so that the most important rise to the top and draw a line through each item as we accomplish it & give ourselves a big checkmark when it’s done.

Oh and one more thing!  As we look at all we’ve done in so little time with little or no crumbs on the floor; celebrate. . . .

Yes, celebrate by having a huge peanut butter passion ice cream sundae with loads of chocolate syrup and a dollop of whipped cream.

To really top it off  - plop a maraschino cherry on top and. . . SAVOR!

Now how awesome is that? 

Linda, a fellow journeyer