November 9, 2019 - 57 - "Phew!!!"

Michael asked me this cryptic question around noon today:  "Do you know what we did today that we didn't have to do?"

Me:  "Huh?"  (See how cool it is for Michael to live with a wordsmith like me?  It's just one snappy retort after another.)

Michael said again:  "Do you know what we did that we didn't have to do?"

Me (staring stupidly as my brain tried to understand what the hell he was telling me):  "Huh??  I
          don't understand what you're saying."

Michael:  "We sat in the hot tub."

Me:  "Yessss...?  That was fun.  Sooooo...?"

Michael:  "We didn't have to.  It wasn't on a list.  We didn't have to do it."

Me:  "Oh.  Oh!  Oh, wow!  You're right!   I see what you mean."

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     He wasn't kidding.  It has been months since we sat in the hot tub.  We have been under the gun about one thing or another for...way longer than I like to think.

     We returned to Texas from San Miguel on Thursday.  

     Before that we'd worked for months straight to get the house to a point where we could follow through on our plans to have a family gathering there for Day of the Dead 2019.

     And it was a major push.  At times it felt like Sisyphus pushing the stone uphill.  Michael bore the brunt of the pressure because he was there more.

     We have a big Phase II part of the plan that just couldn't get done before the November deadline.   But we got most of the inside of the house done, and then we decorated it, as if that was the end of the project.

     We had a wonderful visit with the kids...and then we disassembled most of what we did, put it all back in storage, and left the house to the workers for the next phase.

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    Then we came home to host family in from South Carolina for the Cowboys game tomorrow.

     We unpacked, started laundry, made beds, cut back the jungle-like weeds in the backyard (it's amazing what only about 5 weeks of inattention will do to a yard), we bought groceries...and had a great evening with the fam.

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    Then today they went off to tour the Book Depository in Dallas.  And we:  sat in the hot tub!   

     It was bliss.

     Michael made a good point.  We haven't been without a pressing list of things that must be done...in a very, very, long time.

     In between redoing houses we've done the rest of normal life, from doing the bills, the laundry, spending time with family and friends.  I've also gone to work, and tried to stick to some of my health and creativity goals.

     Sticking to my mini-habits both makes it all more stressful...and has made it possible.  I have a lot more energy for all the other crazy plans we make, when I do the stuff that keeps me healthy.

    But, wow, what a feeling not to be on a deadline.  The next phase doesn't have to get done by any particular date.  And for that we are truly grateful.  

    Just say no to deadlines!  Sheesh!

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"To achieve great things, two things are needed:  a plan and not quite enough time." 

-Leonard Bernstein

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