The schedule-keeper

I have lost my agenda for the last few weeks. At first, some would panic. I, however, thought, "I have it all together. It's either on my calendar at work or I have notes around the house to remind me". Ah yes... famous last words.

The odd thing is, I really don't reference my agenda very much for actual appointments and meetings, etc. I use it to log my workouts, my diet (or lack thereof), house unpaid bills, receipts, grocery lists and occasionally, important things to do on a certain day/week/month (like, make appointment with the photographer for the wedding!). It seems that the daily documentary of my day - mainly my workouts - gives me a basis from which I can then plan the rest of my life. I discovered this unfortunate coincidence in the last few weeks by observing the following mishaps:

1) I had to reschedule my fiancé and my very important premarital counselling to accomodate a long-awaited honour band performance in which my daughter was performing and at which I was meeting my Portland-based father. Then... realizing I had mis-remembered the time of the performance, had to RE-reschedule the premarital counselling and call in a last-minute day off from work. *whew*

2) I had to rescind my RSVP to a baby shower for a dear, old childhood friend of mine, whom I haven't seen since I was married the first time (that's 19 years ago, folks!) because I forgot that I had promised my son his 16th birthday party that day. Oh... and that I was running a 5k race in the morning.

3) I had the VERY unfortunate j0b of reminding my over-achieving daughter that her idea of buying me tickets to one of my favourite musicians fell on the same day as her Winter Concert. She now has to literally get her band director to re-arrange the winter concert so she can RUN from the high school to the town theatre to catch the last half of the show or I have to give the ticket to someone else and forego the rosy dream of a holiday event as a family.

There are countless more smaller incidents, but now I am somewhat depressed by my lack of forethought-without-aids and the realization that the entire family has come to count on, and in turn take for granted, my ability to juggle dozens of people's schedules.

Thank the gods I get my agenda back this evening.

On Being a Band Mom and Senior Mom

I am so very proud of both of my children. However, this year is Madelyn's year to revel in being at the top of her high school career, so I will share my proud moments. It is interesting being the mother of a marching and jazz band student who also happens to be a senior this year. I find myself on the other side of the experience, having been a jazz singer/marching band musician long, long ago. I find myself thinking I'm so appreciated by these kids, but then look back to my years of band and choir tours and can't even remember the parents who were there, let alone think back on any measure of appreciation!

However, I am quite blessed by a daughter who actually DOES tell me she appreciates me, even though I still make her do her chores after a busy performance weekend.

Words cannot express my pride in my daughter and all her many accomplishments. Just look at her!