Today I feel the need to stay home and do something refreshing--like read or sew or even cook. But that's not going to happen. I have duties elsewhere. I've been working with Olan Mills photographers this week, getting the portraits done for our new church directory. This is the last day of photography, then comes the actual layout and design of the book.
I feel pulled in so many directions these days. I feel like I have to get my life arranged so that I have some "Me Time," aside from the time that I'm so done in, all I can do is lie on the couch or sit and stare at something like the tv. I'm not in crisis or anything like that. I have not measured my oven to see if my head will fit. (Anyway, my oven is electric--not the right tool.) I just feel like--well, a scene from "Coal Miner's Daughter" comes to mind. Loretta is on stage; she can't sing, as she's in the throes of a nervous breakdown. She stops the band and speaks to the audience: "Patsy always said, 'Little girl, you gotta run your own life.' Well my life's runnin' me." Shortly after that, she collapses.
My life does, indeed, run me. I thought when I retired, there'd be all this free time. Time to quilt and read and write and daydream--time to play. Nope! I feel like I do less playing now than I did when I had a full-time job. And I know that's my fault. I just haven't learned, as Cait says, "the value of the word NO." I think I need a course in "No as a Second Language." Maybe they offer one at the community college. You think?
Well, it did rain yesterday. Alabama has been in the worst drought we've seen in 50 years, they tell us. That's another mood buster for me. If it goes for a week or more without raining, I feel like I'm drying up. I love rainy days, rainy nights, thunder, all that good stuff. We had a great thunderstorm yesterday and almost an inch of rain. I loved it.
Vann is working on the Habitat house again today. And I'll be at the church with the photographers. Then tomorrow is Father's Day. That reminds me; I have to go shopping. See you later.
Oh yeah, P.S. WENDY WON THE DRAWING FOR THE MAGAZINE this time. E-mail me your mailing address, Wendy at suscleve@aol.com, and I'll get the mag in the mail to you on Monday.
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On 06/16/2007, Debra Spincic said ...
We have had nothing but rain; enough that it has killed many of my new plants. So, I'll send it your way.
And, yes! Learn to say NO! (but I have found that means getting together with people less).
On 06/16/2007, Toni said ...
Just cruising through blogland this morning at stumbled upon your site...I only wish there was a course on just saying NO. Love your tulip teapot & teacup. Send some of that rain out here to California where we desperately need it. Have a wonderful weekend!
On 06/17/2007, Rian said ...
Hang in there, dear. Yeah, and we feared boredom when we retired. HAHAHAHA!
On 06/18/2007, Susan Lenz said ...
I learned to say NO several years ago...actually, it will be six years on July 14...Bastille Day...I think some French people once learned to say NO that day too! I celebrate every year.
I finally fired my head mat cutter and began down-sizing my growing picture framing business. It took two years to complete the down-sizing...find jobs for the other employees and finish various business commitments. There had been fourteen on payroll and growth was still at 10% per year. I had had enough. I worked every day of every week and most evenings from 9 PM until 1 AM. I really wasn't raising my kids. I was making lots of money and never got a chance to spend any of it. I fantasized about embroidery. After fourteen years of framing, I needed ME TIME. (We paid off the house and cars with the money!)
So, I'm "sort of" retired. I still have to frame some...we need to make a living. (My husband has a PhD in civil engineering but quit consulting after three years to work for me!) We only frame for people who let me be totally creative. Clients don't get to know what their piece will look like, when it will be done, or how much it is going to cost....if I advertised this, I'd still have too much work....so we're very quiet about it and tell lots and lots of people NO!
No, I don't frame for everyone.
No, I don't explain my ideas, choices, or decisions to anyone.
No, I can't please all the people all the time.
No, I don't want to please all the people.
No, I'm not looking for more business.
No, this isn't normal...I'm not normal.
No, I don't ever want any employees.
No, I don't want to see your fabric swatches, the chip of the wall coloring, or your snapshots of the interior.
No, it doesn't bother me if you leave to go to a "real" frame shop. This isn't a real frame shop anymore.
It is actually FUN to say NO! Now I'm an artist. I still fantasize about embroidery but I get to put these ideas into action. Sure, there is less "connect" time with other people...but I like myself enough now that I don't mind this. In fact, I love it.
Learning to say NO was the best thing I ever did.
On 06/22/2007, Granny Fran said ...
I'm running behind on checking blogs since not being able to breathe so I'm trying to catch up. Love that teapot and cup! It took me a long time to learn to just say no to others. Now I need to learn to say it to me.
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