Discombobulated
I gained a whole week today. It feels luxurious: what to do with this newfound space of time? It’s like finding a $20 bill in the pocket of your winter coat. Of course, just as with found money, immediately upon the heels of the jubilant discovery rush the responsible thoughts: you could put the money toward bills, or into a child’s college fund. I should (must) work toward some impending deadlines; I should tackle the Extreme Purging project I keep saying I’m going to undertake.
After all, it’s not like I really gained a week. It was here on the calendar all along; it was factored into commitments I have made. I didn’t lose it for long, only misplaced it for a day or two. The culprit was Comic-Con brain, I’m sure. SDCC came earlier in July than it usually does. Somehow, after I emerged from the exhausted post-con daze, I jumped ahead a week mentally. Rose is in Colorado visiting my parents. I knew she was coming home the 24th, but until this morning, I thought that was today. We have family coming to visit at the end of the month. Until this morning, I thought next week was the end of the month. The time in between is filled up with assignments: in a way, I’ve only located the lost $20 I had already spent.
Still, I feel dazzled and charmed: some tasks I’d thought would be frantic may now unfold at a reasonable pace. And how much more might I read, write, draw this month than I had been supposing?
My friend Edith Fine (a wonderful writer) told me once that when she used to teach school, she would always begin a new month by having the kids take note of what day of the week the sevens fell on. Since, you know, the multiples of seven are going to be on the same day each week. I caught the habit from her—it’s quite useful! I think July is the first month I’ve forgotten to notice, ever since Edith shared the trick with me. The sevens fall on Tuesdays, this month. In August, they’re the Fridays.
Next Tuesday is the 21st, not the 28th, in case you were wondering.
***
There’s something I need to get a picture of—the story begs a visual—but the shirt in question has already gone into the laundry. I’ll share a photo later. The other day, I remarked on Twitter that Rilla has decided to be a fashion designer when she grows up—a designer, that is, of clothing with lots of pockets. A perpetual grumble around here is the dearth of girls’ clothes with useful pockets. This, Rilla has announced, is a wrong that must be righted. I applaud her vision.
Yesterday I had a doctor’s appointment. (Which I knew was on the 16th. HOW did I think today was the 24th??) When I returned home, Huck greeted me at the door, beaming proudly, urging me to take notice of his new pocket. Picture a worn gray t-shirt. Way up high near the shoulder, a teeny tiny pocket of some scrap fabric rummaged out of a storage bin, attached with embroidery floss in large, determined stitches. There’s just about room to keep a quarter in it. It is the dearest thing I have ever seen. No moss grows on Miss Rilla, for sure. When she announces a business plan, she means BUSINESS. I’m sure she knows what day it is.
sarah says:
The 7s fall on Friday in August here too. For some reason, that surprises me. My brain does not speak the language of time at all. Even when I can actually translate it, I still can’t quite comprehend it. So you have my sympathy.
I love the sound of the pocket! So endearing.
On July 17, 2015 at 4:22 pm
Melanie says:
Oh the description of the tiny pocket is melting me. I have to see a photo.
I had an unexpected gain this week, too, when my big kids suddenly were invited to attend Vacation Bible School for free. Four days with only Lucy with me all day. We did a lot of cleaning and decluttering. But today we went and visited her best friend. It was nice to have all this unexpected time to do things I never thought I’d get around to doing. What a gift.
On July 17, 2015 at 6:07 pm
tanita says:
Awww! I second Rilla’s belief that there need to be way more girls’ clothes with pockets – I get all my dresses made now with pockets, and it makes me so very happy.
I am now going to sew a few on jeans, with embroidery floss. That is the best idea, EVER.
On July 17, 2015 at 11:13 pm
Tabatha says:
Yay for pockets (of any size) and for surprise gifts of time! I will give that sevens idea a try — I have trouble keeping up with the date.
On July 18, 2015 at 2:32 am
Penny says:
Way to go Rilla – I appreciate a person of action as well as vision. Clothing for females does need more pockets, for sure. Imagine not having to carry a handbag because you have enough pockets? oh the JOY.
I hope you enjoy your week in every way possible.
On July 18, 2015 at 8:02 am
maria says:
“….. Rilla has decided to be a fashion designer when she grows up—a designer, that is, of clothing with lots of pockets. A perpetual grumble around here is the dearth of girls’ clothes with useful pockets. This, Rilla has announced, is a wrong that must be righted. I applaud her vision.”
Yes! Amen! My daughter and I will definitely wear her pocketed designs!!!!! We too have the same disgruntled frustration with lame pockets, or no pockets at all, on clothing for females. What IS the deal with that?!
So go Rilla!
On July 18, 2015 at 8:54 am
maria says:
Oh! Label/brand name idea: Go!Rilla! or GoRilla and the logo can be a girl gorilla wearing clothing w/loads of pockets! 😀
On July 18, 2015 at 8:58 am
Melissa Wiley says:
GoRilla is GENIUS, Maria!
On July 20, 2015 at 8:01 am
Melanie says:
GoRilla is genius. I love it.
On July 29, 2015 at 7:57 pm
maria says:
Well gee whiz, thanks! 🙂
Can see a Rilla GoRilla peeking/popping out of a pocket. Heehee!
If she goes all business with her pocket clothing I will gladly help with marketing and logo design.(notice I said “help” there as I think Rilla might have the whole logo design thing covered with her drawing and design skills!)
On July 31, 2015 at 1:33 pm