Predilections and Penchants

I now understand and appreciate the logic of long, holiday weekends.  In addition to the recognition of whatever the holiday might be, it gives folks like me a chance to recoup and regroup with the rigors of daily life.

As this weekend neared, people with whom I came in contact all asked me if I had special plans for the long Memorial Day weekend.  I smiled and said, "Yes, I do.  I even have an extra day off because I am not speaking at church on Sunday."  Their next question came more eagerly, "Oh, where will you be going?"  "Nowhere. In addition to having a new puppy in the house, I am looking forward to staying home to get a few projects done and ... (I take a baited breath) read.  I have three new books awaiting me."

As with 90% of similar conversations, the other person deflates a bit and politely wishes me to have a good day. I have long ago given up trying to explain that I prefer to stay indoors and find the luxury of spending uninterrupted hours with my books one of the most rewarding activities on the planet.

It's not that I don't appreciate a beautiful spring day; or a walk in Bidwell Park; or the always-glorious clouds here in Chico.  However, when I get to have extended quiet time that is not interspersed with phone calls and e-mails and chores, I relish it.  In fact, I crave it.  Whether it was because I was an only child who learned to thrive and survive on alone time; or because of the weird wiring of my personality, I need to have private time away from the madding crowds.

Now I only have myself to blame in that I don't moderate work and leisure very well.   That and my ADHD and/or OCD that makes even the most mundane project harder to accomplish.  I keep trying to find an even keel for these things but it hasn't improved drastically enough to warrant not using holiday time as catch-up time. Most of my life and work have always been so intertwined that I couldn't tell the difference. And such is the case with ministry--it is pretty much a 24/7 job and it the work I love so much, I do it (meaning church activities and such) because it is my life.  But at least this holiday weekend, having the one extra day allowed me to have a better balance in that I had two days in a row without doing work-stuff. I made sure I took at least a full 24-hours off without doing email or cell phones that had to do with work. No easy feat, I might add.  It took real diligence to sneak in some R & R, read, nap, watch a movie and do my workout.

For most folks, tomorrow is another day off work. I, for one, will return to the work that I need to finish or prepare for the new month.  I am glad to say I created a bit of balance in waiting till after 9:00 p.m. to even open the computer to write this blog.

While you are at your picnic or ballgame,  you needn't give a second thought to me here at home curled up with a few good books.  This is the kinda clambake I like best.