What’s On Your Calendar??

Full disclosure, I use an old-fashioned calendar. You know what I'm talking about...spiral bound, biggish blocks, one week at a time, or the whole month at a glance.  Some may call it a planner.  I look forward to getting my new one every year and because I had been working at a school, my calendar went July 1 thru June 30.  That being said, I truly don’t need that kind of calendar now, but I’m choosing to wait until December this year to purchase another. 

I know I’m probably one of the last people around to use a paper calendar, but I’m just not a digital girl in my day to day life.  (except for Facebook, gmail, and the occasional Instagram viewing!)  I know people who have mastered the phone calendar/appointments and what a convenience that would be, but typing on a phone the notes and appointments, extra comments and details, is not easy for me. 

That being said, sometimes, my calendar would get so full I wanted to scream.  With the Gala, there were meetings, school events, and deadlines.  In my personal life, there was Martini Club, meetings for fashion shows, vendor shows, regular club meetings, happy hours, dinner with friends, doctor appointments, weekend getaways, and important things like payday and bills due. 

There were times in the past couple of years that I had to write “Lisa Day” on the calendar, just to make sure I kept it open to get my errands or tidying up done.  I know many of you can relate…you surely have had calendars that are packed full…at least you used to!

Enter March 13, pandemic shutdowns.  Slowly, things started to get cancelled from my calendar.  First there were events at school.  Then, there were social events, like weddings, birthday parties, retirement parties, farewell parties, baby showers, concerts, trips and so much more. 

With my move, I was keeping a lot of lists, rather than writing things on my calendar.  It was easier to manage one day at a time via a list, since those calendar squares are not that big! 

Since moving back to Louisville, my calendar has not been the first thing I view in the morning. I really have had no reason to look.  That changed today.  My room at Marcellino Manor had been somewhat organized but when Katie and her family came to visit, I did some juggling and changing things around, hiding unfinished business, and making room for Gabriel’s pack & play. 

Finally, I have ordered some storage pieces and I’m determined to get this room looking like my space again.  I’m determined that by the end of the week, there will be no unfinished business or the huge pile of “things I need to go through!”  I may even have a picture to prove it.

In the process, I pulled out my calendar to notate a few things coming up…mani/pedi, haircut, happy hour, etc…I proceeded to note “pension paydays” and some “bill due” dates and a couple of dates that I needed to remember for appointments for Mom, as well as when Joey would not be around. 

This is when it got a little dreary…I had so many things to put an X through…four weddings, the Cher concert, a baby shower, a wedding shower, two graduation parties, a memorial celebration for a good friend, and a bourbon trail trip.  Physically marking these things off with an X was eye-opening and quite disappointing.  Actually, it was a bit sad.  Some of these things will take place, hopefully in the not too distant future, but some of these things have been cancelled completely.  Now that is sad.

Being confined to home is not easy for any of us.  There are times when I realize that I probably wouldn’t be here, in Louisville, living with my parents if there had not been a pandemic.  I probably would have had my own place in town,  (in Louisville of course!) where I could continue my new chapter.  I probably would have re-connected with those many friends I have missed, maybe a cookout, maybe happy hour, maybe a trip to Churchill Downs, but none of those things have been possible and as a result, I have an empty calendar and a slightly sad heart!  My calendar is EMPTY!  

I truly hope to start filling those calendar squares with activities…even if they are small things!  There is one thing I know…I need a full calendar and I am okay with scheduling a “Lisa” day when needed.  I’m working on my list of people to see once we are allowed to plan such things!  Should I add you to that list??? 

My first Haboob!!

My sad, empty calendar!!