We’re done with the business of vacationing – for now. Very relaxing stuff. We’re among the lucky ones. These days, the trade rags keep telling me, many are forgoing relaxation because they feel they can’t – or shouldn’t – get away for one reason or another. That sentiment is hogwash, I say. You need a break. Otherwise the stress will rob years from your life…
Pam, at this very moment, is likely doing triage on her inbox. Probably a thousand messages there. I know her office is short-staffed this week and that’s probably not helping matters much. She’s made a point of completely unplugging from the goings-on at the office during her time off. An excellent decision, IMHO. For gone are the days when The Company gives a shit for its human resources and it’s merely correct to make the relationship as reciprocal as possible – without compromising one’s own values, of course. It’s easier said than done. And most people don’t even try, often for economic reasons. That’s a discussion for another time.
The kid’s back in school. Today’s the first day of his last year of high school. Besides his backpack and lunch he carries his angst. At that age everyone has their share of angst, maybe more than their share. I hope he can see through it and do well in his classes. He doesn’t understand – yet – that the complexities of life rise exponentially soon after that segment of life moves from present tense to past tense. He’ll look back at these times and remember them with words like ‘simple’ and ‘easy’ and ‘free’. Maybe even a bit of ‘regret’. No, he doesn’t know that yet. He can’t. Angst is a powerful drug.
It’s quiet here. Nothing but the sounds of the intermittent rain, the landscape crew in the distance, the hum of the computer fans. Gone are the noises of… recreation and relaxitude.
My desk has a backlog of crap and not a little bit of clutter. The overflowing tray of stuff for the shredder, same situation with the bin of recyclable material. The list of stuff I should be doing is a mile long. A bit more of this coffee and I’ll be ready.
