Calenders

Are calenders a sign of getting old? I wonder about these things.

When I was a kid the closest thing to a calender I had was the date on the chalkboard at the front of the class and the one on the bulletin board by the door. I never really thought about the date unless it was a holiday or there was a birthday coming up. Yes, I realize both had much to do with vacation time from school and maybe gifts but really as a child what else do you need to know.

As I grew older and my kids started having busier lives I had a calender in the living room to keep track of where people needed to go. I was a single mom of five kids so it was a necessity. The kids could write things down and look to see where I might be. (This was before the leash otherwise known as cell phone.)

My mother has always had a few calenders. For years a free one from the credit union always hung in the kitchen. It had birthdays and anniversaries marked on it. (She quit going in the kitchen much an hasn't had one in there for a few years now.) She has one in her pouch wallet thing that she has filled in every year too with everyone's birthdays and anniversaries then highlights them and usually has the age marked in there so she won't forget how old the little ones are. As she makes appointments with doctors and social engagements and church activities she marks them down too. Her mantra is if it isn't in the calender is isn't getting done. People started giving her pretty calenders for Christmas that she hung in the hallway but it was usually never marked. She still never goes in the kitchen so one hasn't hung there for a long time. Since I got tired of looking in her wallet to work out my schedule (I am her caretaker) I started writing her appointments on the calender in the hall.

About a year ago I hung a calender by the shelf where we keep the dog treats. Every day I mark down when I give them their vitamin or make eggs (they get a scrambled one when we do... spoiled I know.) I like to keep track of the vitamins. I don't trust my memory as much as I did before I was electrocuted. I have asked that people write down when they give them treats because after getting the dogs fixed the girls started to put on weight. Nothing like fat wiener dogs as a cliche. At the time we had four people giving the poor little things treat after treat to where they weren't even treats anymore but more like too many empty calories instead.

As I started doing PT after an accident a few months ago I put a calender up in my room to keep track of PT time and work outs. Kind of a progress report of sorts. It makes me feel like I've accomplished something to see the days filled in.

So today I'm noticing all the calenders I've added to my life. I think dang am I getting so old. I need to write that much down to keep track of it? I mean my kids have all nearly left home to begin lives of their own. The calenders are helpful tools but when did I get to the point I needed so many just to get by?