Have you ever noticed how deadlines breed seemingly non-related deadlines? A friend cleans out her garage before going on holiday; another sorts her already-tidy desk before entertaining a visitor.
In my case, the Great OE has inspired a vast array of tasks which, to be fair, needed doing sometime, but certainly hadn’t been top of the list until now.
The health checks I understand; trips to the dentist, and osteopath, as well as a skin appraisal which resulted in three dodgy spots being frizzled off my face. I am assured the scabs will be gone before travel day.
But there’s other deadlines which have demanded my attention too. Macabre deadlines. Updating my Will, funeral details and Power’s of Attorney all became urgent, despite my having ignored them for the past five years. Statistics tell us that we are much more likely to die whilst going about our normal living from home than we are when travelling, yet something in my brain insists I get these dealt with before the Great OE.
In addition, because I clearly needed more pressure, I’ve been though my wardrobe, kitchen cupboards and laundry, sending items to recycling. There’s even been visits to folk I haven’t seen in ages; old friends whose lives have wandered away on different paths. The chords between us remain strong, but no longer require regular maintenance. There’s joy in picking up where we left off, and in the farewell hug that promises we will refresh in a few months time.
On my Great OE I will be reconnecting with folk who I’ve shared an interlude with in the past. Some are relatives, but most are past travelers who stayed in our home. Each holds a special place in my memory. There will also be two or three who I’ve never met; relatives I’ve developed memories of through letters or family stories. What a gift to finally be able to meet them!
And speaking of gifts, several closer family members have birthdays whilst I am away, and therein lies another deadline. Most have been easily covered with parcels or vouchers sent early, clearly marked ‘Do not open until (date).’
But oh, the dilemma around what to do for the ‘Whiskered One.’ There’s no card which expresses enough how much he means to me, and no shop item that can deputize for a birthday hug. The simple gestures we share on birthdays will have to wait until my return. But like old friends, love is connected with strong chords; maintenance up-to-date.
And maybe that’s why deadlines breed deadlines; surely the greatest gift involves making the path smoother for my loved one’s, should the unthinkable happen. To have my house in order, both literally and figuratively, is a gift worth making time for.
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