Dearest Rachel –
Assuming you’ve been keeping an eye on me like I always ask you to, you know what my schedule looks like on an average day. For that matter, it’s not that much different than it was when you were still around, come to that. I’d get up in the morning, head over to my ‘office’ at the folks’, noodle around with this or that on the computer until three or four, and head home. These days, I’ve added early-morning trips to the gym to that regimen – and there’s the weekly walk with Lars that cuts the ‘office’ time for that day down to a mere hour and a half, at best – but by and large, it’s very much a routine.
This week, however, has found me having to upend that schedule. I’ve told you about the trip to the polls that Daniel and I took on Monday, and I mentioned that Kris was over yesterday (after rejiggering her schedule to accommodate another client of hers), which, when combined with my visit to Harms Woods with Lars, meant that I’ve only been to the ‘office’ one day this week thus far. And today isn’t going to be that much more in that respect, as I’ve arranged to meet with my counterpart on staff at camp to clear up some confusion regarding several transactions that we haven’t been able to record. Granted, I only have to go as far as the flagship church campus, rather than driving the couple hours or so up to camp, but it does mean spending a lot less time than usual at the ‘office’ even today.
In order to make up for that, I’ve decided to forgo my morning trip to the gym. Not that I couldn’t use it (although my weigh-in this morning has me precisely at two-ten, which is pretty good for now; I’ve gotten under that level each day this week, but only after my workout. To be at the line before the workout is to get a step ahead of the rest of the week), but because I might as well show up a little (maybe an hour?) early in order to make up for the more limited amount of time. Besides, after covering over eleven miles (and supposedly getting in some thirty thousand steps), I’m still a little footsore even this morning. I think I could use the time off. I might work in a workout in the afternoon, though; we’ll have to see how it goes.
Ironically enough, after determining that I was still capable of sleeping in the other day, I found myself awake this morning at only a little after four. Then again, I eventually managed to roll over and go back to sleep (emphasis on “eventually,” however), so perhaps that’s not so much of an issue as all that. I finally conceded to the morning just before seven, which you’ll agree is considerably more reasonable (even if you’d probably have preferred to stay in bed for another couple of hours yourself – but then, you would have been up more than a few hours later than I had been, so it evens out a bit).
The intent was to show up at the house an hour or so earlier than a ‘normal’ business day, which is to say, around eight or so, and put in some extra time at the office before heading out to meet my colleague on the camp staff. Unfortunately, I dawdled over my news feed as well as breakfast (including having to throw out milk that had passed its expiry date – and smelled like it – requiring me to scrap my original plans for the meal and scrounge a bit for an alternative), with the result that I was barely out the door by eight-thirty. On the other hand, since I’m more likely than not to get to the office nearer to ten o’clock than nine (and sometimes on the opposite side of ten o’clock), this probably still would qualify as showing up more than an hour earlier than usual. In any event, I figured I had things well under control, and even though things weren’t running according to my customary schedule, I’d be doing all right.
However, just as I was pulling into the driveway at the folks’ place, and shutting off my car, my phone notified me that I’d received some mail from my colleague. As it happens, she (and her family, I would guess) had been battling the flu, which apparently finally caught up with her. So today would not be a good day to meet after all, and would I be willing to reschedule for Monday?
Well.
Another thing you probably figured out about me, honey, was that while I tend to try and have a regular schedule, I also tried to make a deliberate effort to keep myself flexible. It was harder when I had a job to report to – and it’s still difficult, since it goes against my nature – but I think I’ve gotten better at it over time, even if I still find having to make such accommodations worthy of comment to you about. Besides, heaven knows I’ve had to deal with a few more illnesses than I’d rather, even just this year; why subject myself to one more when I don’t have to? I told her that would be fine.
Now, I just need to figure out what to do with the extra time I won’t be taking today to head over to church to meet her. Maybe I’ll get in that workout; maybe I’ll get a new bottle of milk; or maybe I’ll just work on another project or two of my own.
In any event, if you can continue to keep an eye on me regardless, that would be great. Oh, and wish me luck; I’m probably still going to need it.
Letters to Rachel 