I’ve been working on a theory about time; specifically, the passing of time and the perceived passing of time. I know I have the same number of hours in a day as everyone else, and the same number of hours in a day as when I was younger.
I think the hours were somehow fatter when I was younger. I could accomplish a lot more in those fat hours. My hours seem much thinner these days. They stack tighter and can be passed quicker. It’s hard to get things done in a thin hour.
Everyone is busy. We all have things to do on weekends, and things we’ll try to get done after work. There are things that need to be done before you go, and things to finish before they arrive.
I have indoor projects best suited for dark, rainy winter days, and projects postponed until the longer, warmer summer days are here. Lately I find myself considering a vast, new scheduling option: “Soon After Retiring.” It appears to be wide open time slot.
Today is St Patrick’s Day. On St Patrick’s Day 2011, I had prostate surgery. I’ve never been zealous about the holiday, but the night before, I asked my wife to find a green ribbon I could tie in a bow attached to myself where my surgeon would lift the blanket and be surprised to see I was celebrating St Patrick’s Day.
That might have been fun, but I had just recently met my surgeon, and that could have made me appear to be irresponsible, or a weird-O. So I didn’t. Looking back over our seven year relationship, the doctor and I have shared a few laughs, and I’ll bet the green St Patrick’s Day ribbon likely would have made for a unique and memorable surgery.