Just another Sunday

Yesterday morning I delivered a large collection of Lake items and repairs to the bakery/gift shop (and there were more tasks waiting for me, but that's another issue) and picked up a nice check for my efforts. The new keychains will be a success because they're unisex and for anyone who carries keys, so that was a good item to develop.

I came home and opened the shop, and as usual no one but my spouse visited. Although I use the time to sort through and pack away new purchases, polish the tarnish from silver items, and make a few new pieces, I also get restless now and then even with the radio on for company. Saturday was one of those restless days. I knew we'd be visiting a couple at their new home that overlooks a nearby lake for dinner, so I didn't want to start anything that would absorb my attention, knowing I'd probably not have time to finish it. I meandered around the yard, checking the garden plots, sauntered indoors to the computer to check email, and sat out on the porch doing the crossword puzzle. Back down in the shop again I took a mental step back to see if I could figure out what's making me restless. I think the answer is twofold.

First, it's August. Each year I promise myself a July free from thinking or doing things associated with teaching. After all, this is supposed to be the vacation time that lets me recharge my batteries by doing something different, and then I'll be fresh for a new start when the school year begins. That means as soon as the calendar proclaims the fact that August has arrived, I have to shift gears toward school. I have a paid summer project regarding the way we teach new vocabulary to students, a student teacher to meet again for some planning, and a colleague to contact about a class that she's taught, and now I'll be teaching a second section of it. I enjoy being the master of my own time and the freedom with which to spend it, so the prospect of giving up those pleasures to people who are sometimes unreasonable or unrealistic in their expectations is not always a happy one. This feeling is similar to the "pre-Monday blues" I've described in the past that strike me on Sunday afternoons during the school year. I recognize this beast easily.

Second, and more of a challenge to describe, is change that's occurring in some aspects of my interpersonal life. 2007 and 2008 have been years of some pretty nifty highs and some dark lows, and at this point the lows are beginning to win. For highs I've been fortunate to renew and cement some valuable friendships, and I'm looking forward to two class reunions in the upcoming months. The other side of that coin is the change in status and the loss of some relationships in the past year and a half. I'm not good at grieving, so I carry it with me until I can figure out what to do with it. I'm still working on that. And this change thing...well, it takes away my sense of control which unsettles me. My brain knows it's an okay thing, but another part of me pouts. I know the only person who can change this is me, so after I've figuratively kicked my butt around for a little while and told myself to shape up and get on with things, I'll be fine. Yeah.

The visit with friends was nice. We've known them for about 30 years and we get along well even though it's months between visits. They have decided to go organic for 90% of their food, so we had bison burgers, sausages of deer/venison and bison, and spare ribs from a local organic farm. They'd picked up a fresh blueberry pie that wasn't made at the farm but for the shop by someone nearby, and putting two and two together, I realized that it was my bakery gal who'd made it. She bakes twice a week for them and the son who substituted for me last fall makes the delivery. Small world! I'm not crazy about her cherry or apple pies, but this pie was delicious. Topped with a scoop of ice cream from a local dairy and creamery, it was superb. Over dessert we discussed our respective travel plans, theirs to see the Grandy Canyon and ours to Denver, and we could make suggestions for each other which was welcome. We'll get together in a few weeks and compare notes on our excursions.

Today I did my help desk duty for two hours and then went out to my shop. I'd thought about taking a jaunt over to the craft fair that I thought I was doing but decided against it. I didn't really care what they had there, and I'm sure I'll hear from some people who did stop by. Instead, I made a pair of earrings and a necklace for the bride, ones that have Chinese symbols for "double happiness" and a pearl that I hand wired to the charm. I think she'll like them. I also made some jade jewelry for myself from some beautiful dark green beads I'd been saving. They'll go nicely with the dress I plan to wear - a dark olive background with large flowers of a muted beet red and gold - and with other outfits I'll wear in the fall and winter. Again, no one visited the shop besides my husband so I was able to spend my time making what I wanted to.

I think the plan to make a 'dry run' to the airport to find a special parking lot we've been given permission to use is scrapped ... again. We've gone back and forth on this one. I know we'll be able to find it by the map my friend drew for me, and he even admitted that if by some chance we can't find it, we can always park in the garage or the main lot, but he's one who feels the need to make a trial before the real thing so he's wavered back and forth. The last time he tried to 'bribe' me into going with him he said he'd treat me to dinner anywhere I wanted. Well, that sounds great but that's on top of half a tank of gas, and these days that's a pretty big consideration. I said I would go, but common sense prevailed and he changed his mind for the third time so, at this moment, we're staying home, throwing 'dogs on the grill, enjoying locally grown corn on the cob, and saving money toward the trip. It's almost time to start packing!