Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Phooey!

Over the years I've developed a system that helps me remember my commitments. Each appointment or thing to do is put on a sheet of paper. I add the date, then stack everything sequentially in a letter tray. At night before I go to bed I pull out the things I need for the next day and place them either by my purse or on the countertop in my bathroom (depending on how important it is for me to remember it immediately after waking).

My system has served me well for many years. However, now that I'm sheltering myself in place the vast majority of my commitments have disappeared. I haven't done a good job of checking the tray, which came back to bite me tonight.

I'm one of the sponsors for a group of teenagers who meet weekly. Each week two sponsors attend and serve as guides. Like a lot of things in this new world we're living in, the meetings have gone virtual. The sponsor with the Zoom account 'opens up' the room, stays around just long enough to make sure things are running smoothly, then bows out.

After dinner Hubby Tony and I were taking a walk. We were at the farthest point away from the house when I got a text from the organizer asking if I was supposed to be one of the sponsors tonight. I did a quick calculation and figured out that I was. Boy, was I embarrassed!

I responded with my apologies, and said it would take me 20 minutes or so to get back home. The organizer was great about the whole thing, and said that she would stay on the call. I told her I owed her a big favor.

Tony and I picked up the pace and hustled back to the house, but the damage was already done. All I could do when I got home was send an apology email and promise never to make the same mistake again.

Five years ago today: Gutters, Gutters, Who's Got The Gutters?

13 comments:

  1. Wouldnt an agenda/planner book work for you Kathy?

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    1. I also use my Outlook calendar on my computer (which syncs to my phone when I remember to do it). My system has the advantage of making sure I remember any paperwork I have to take with me when I leave the house.

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  2. Thumbs-up, you did the next best thing!

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  3. Ouch! I’m sure they understood though, Kathy. These are unusual times.

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    1. I'm just glad I have a good reputation with this group of people.

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  4. I have a clever system you might try. If I need to remember something to do; I do something out of the ordinary to remind me. For example I would keep a drawer open ... that would remind me of something I need to do. Or I'd upturn a chair, or place a vase on the floor, or put a shoe on top of the fridge and so on. The problem is that our house is a right mess and I can't remember all the things I need to do.

    God bless.

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    1. I've actually used that system! Today I was in my office and remembered a project I need to do today. I tossed the needed supplies on the floor to remind me to take care of it. Tony came into the office and started to pick it up-he was a little surprised when I told him in a stern tone of voice not to do that :-)

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  5. Whoopsie! Most of us don't even know the day or date! Quite a time!

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    1. I guess as things start opening up again I'm going to have to start paying attention to details like that.

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  6. You couldn't join the Zoom meeting by phone? We have members of one group who do that, no matter where they happen to be, they just jump in on their phone app.

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    1. If I had been by myself I might have made more of an effort, but since Tony was with me it would have been rude.

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  7. Definitely embarrassing. I use google calendar and write all the details on the calendar. It goes to my phone, too, so I'm covered.

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