Vacation is on the horizon!
Starting Monday ~ 5 glorious days off with Thanksgiving tossed in for good measure.
Emails will pile up, phone calls will continue, conference calls will be scheduled even though others know I’m away.
“Take the time before you lose the days.”
I now have more vacation time “in the bank” than I have time to use.
Emails continue to come in, fast and furious, hundreds every day.
Calls, meetings, schedules.
Lately I feel like I’m scaling the Grand Canyon on a daily basis…. blindfolded. I can feel the tension in my shoulders, which now approach my ears. I can feel stress in my heart rate when I lie down at night and can’t quieten my thoughts.
1,000+ miles in the past 10 days, 150 yesterday and another 400 tomorrow – and all the while project calls get scheduled and scheduled and scheduled. “Could you take the lead on this?” “But you and your team know so much about X” “We want you on this task force…” Flattering but ..my cup runneth over.
I hear my mother’s voice whispering in my year, “You can’t be everything to everyone, dear.”
My weariness reminds me to shut it down, shut it up and shut them out.
So – vacation is on the horizon … and there shall be pie!
“We must have a pie. Stress cannot exist in the presence of a pie.” ― David Mamet, Boston Marriage
*Note: no pies were consumed in the writing of this post. Pies shall be made for 1) Grandpa (apple), 2) oldest boy (blueberry) and 3) youngest boy (pumpkin). Will I have any? Not likely. See, the joy is in the creating ~ the cutting, the simmering, the kneading of the dough, Al Green on the stereo and happiness in my kitchen.
Oh so true!
*Are you taking some time off over the Thanksgiving Holiday? What are you looking forward to most? Is there a pie in your future? 😀
A Flapper pie I baked in Mom’s kitchen ~ an Emjayandthem (C) photo
When you love what you do it’s not work. I have read your column for a long time and you enjoy what you do. You love the people (most of them) and the travel. That’s makes it all better. Still you need to kick back once in a while and it’s much deserved. Pie! Bring on the pie! Can you make a flourless pie?
You are spot on, Kate. I had to complete my self-evaluation this week and that was one of my comments, that I really do love the work I do and I think my passion for it translates to success. But sometimes I get weary of being the problem-solver and need to turn it off and tune them out. And I’m doing so this week ~ when I go back, my first day back, I have a PR event with a Congressman, Senator, Mayor and State Legislator b.c that’s how I roll — flat out or nothing 🙂
You can make a flourless pie — Pumpkin doesn’t have any grains in it if you skip the crust which I would do – but I think I’ll make my pumpkin pie cake (recipe on this site) and live a little — Happy Thanksgiving! MJ
LOVE pumpkin cake, even better than pie.
Pie is definitely in the future. Pumpkin. Well pumpkin made with squash. Hey, enjoy those days off you earned them.
Oh yes! My Dad was the ultimate pie connoisseur ~ there wasn’t a pie he didn’t love. I always think of him when a pie is in sight 😀 MJ
Since your mom is no longer here to say this, I will: you need to take care of YOU!
And, Happy Thanksgiving to you & yours!
Thank you sweet friend! I went to bed last night when tired and got up when I wasn’t – whoop! It’s a start – day one of 9 days off – Yee Haw!! MJ
I just have THAT pie
You got it, David 🙂 MJ
The Pie Song from the movie, Michael is now in my head. That’s okay. It’s a happy song!
So glad you’re taking some time to slow down. You need it, girl! And I know how much you’ll love preparing for and hosting Thanksgiving dinner. Enjoy!
Thank you Tee – Pie cures nearly everything! 🙂 Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours MJ
Crustless pumpkin pie is a new family favorite. I look forward to the one our daughter will be making. We’ll have four days this year, very thankful for new company policy. A couple days with family, and two to ourselves. Enjoy yours!
Company policy – ha! Good one!! MJ