I am sorry to say that the list I made with the toys and times was too ambitious. I knew I could never keep up with it, so I modified it:
- A wooden paddle connected to a rubber band connected to a ball — Zero minutes
- Some dishwashing detergent and a plastic ring-thing for making bubbles — Zero minutes
- Crossword puzzle book with large print — Zero minutes
- A large pen, presumably to use on the large-print crossword puzzle book — Same as above
- The names of countries and oceans painted on a squishy ball — Zero minutes
- A wooden truck that I have to build all by myself — Zero minutes
- A wooden birdhouse that I have to build all by myself — Zero minutes
- Finger paints that supposedly wash off walls. (I sure hope so!) — Zero minutes
- A wooden golf game that came with small parts, so it’s rated for ages 6 and up — Zero minutes
- Bingo markers — Zero minutes, 1 night per week at Saint Amalgam’s of the Holy Smoke Church Fellowship Hall
- An apron with “ABC” and “123” printed on it, which we all know is really a bib — Zero minutes
- This item was added to make it a nice, round, even dozen — Zero minutes
When I was finished I decided the paper was taking up too much room on the table and would make me have to move it frequently. So I crumpled it into a ball and scored two points by making the throw into the trash can.
At our friend Kelly’s suggestion I also added an item to my original list:
So:
- Wake up
- Pee
- Nap
Never underestimate the power of naps. Naps recharge both body and mind, and they allow us to escape the heavy workloads that we all face every day.
During my first nap, I thought about other things I might do. Maybe I’ll go outside in the near future. But I won’t put it on my list because if it’s on the list it means I’ll have to do it rather than having it as an option.
Options, I am fast learning, are invaluable to a retiree. Aside from the above, in just one day I have optioned several mays & mights. These include:
- Cutting the lawn — which requires going outside — so, a double option
- Cleaning up the kitchen, which Mia is perfectly capable of doing when she gets home from work, and
- Taking a shower, which I summarily dismissed. I mean, it’s not even April yet. It’s only February.
I know that living with the above is not sustainable. For one, Mia will not be happy. And we all know what happens if the lady in our life is not happy. For another, there will come a time when the options will become necessities.
But in the meantime a fella can dream (preferably while he naps), can’t he?