When I first wake up, routine is what holds me together. I have to have it, have to live my whole life like a clock. Same thing, or at least some scheduled thing. Procedural steps, which is why I love writing procedures. Step 1, Step 2, etc.
It's not a new thing. I vividly remember when I was a kid, getting ready for school, my mom decided one day to fill the breakfast table with a giant spread. I don't know what got into her, ask the woman expert that question I guess. But on this day instead of a Pop-Tart (which I really liked, and was my normal every day breakfast), there was a table full of suff when I got up to go to grade school.
I wasn't awake yet. There's all this stuff, new to me. Choices, things I'm not used to. So I proceeded to choose the pancakes, and then I also proceeded to pour the milk out of the glass onto the stack of pancakes instead of the syrup, I was not operative yet that early in the morning. My mom laughed at that and she went back to the routine - here, have a Pop-Tart.
All that to set this story up - this morning Unit got up before me, highly unusual. She got up at 4 am and I got up at 5 am as I always do on work days. Run the routine, shower, get dressed, downstairs, clockwork. But downstairs there stood Unit, smiling beside the kitchen counter. She's got me all fixed up. Lunch in a bag already, my water to chase the vitamin down with, a glass full of green stuff (Hawaiian Punch)...
I was completely shut down. I was there staring at the spread, and I don't know what to do. I mean, I don't know what to do next. So...I was just about as confused as anybody could be. It's all done already and now I don't know what to do. Routine broken by all good intentions.
I was baffled. So I cranked Red and started to work, and I actually had to think hard about which side of the road to drive on, my mind is blown, routine broken.
I'm not kidding about routine. One day Unit wanted me to mail a letter on my way to work, I pass right past the Post Office. Got the letter (an extra item that day, on the way to work), and in turn I left my cell phone behind. Realized it abuot a mile away from home - I'm going back to get my cell. I'm not going all day without my cell.
So I did. Went back home and got the cell and I was so proud of my accomplishment (hey, I remembered my cell) that when I drove away the second time I left the garage door standing wide assed open until Unit discovered it later in the morning and let me know about it.
Routine. In my case, don't sway from it. That's when trouble happens.
It's not a new thing. I vividly remember when I was a kid, getting ready for school, my mom decided one day to fill the breakfast table with a giant spread. I don't know what got into her, ask the woman expert that question I guess. But on this day instead of a Pop-Tart (which I really liked, and was my normal every day breakfast), there was a table full of suff when I got up to go to grade school.
I wasn't awake yet. There's all this stuff, new to me. Choices, things I'm not used to. So I proceeded to choose the pancakes, and then I also proceeded to pour the milk out of the glass onto the stack of pancakes instead of the syrup, I was not operative yet that early in the morning. My mom laughed at that and she went back to the routine - here, have a Pop-Tart.
All that to set this story up - this morning Unit got up before me, highly unusual. She got up at 4 am and I got up at 5 am as I always do on work days. Run the routine, shower, get dressed, downstairs, clockwork. But downstairs there stood Unit, smiling beside the kitchen counter. She's got me all fixed up. Lunch in a bag already, my water to chase the vitamin down with, a glass full of green stuff (Hawaiian Punch)...
I was completely shut down. I was there staring at the spread, and I don't know what to do. I mean, I don't know what to do next. So...I was just about as confused as anybody could be. It's all done already and now I don't know what to do. Routine broken by all good intentions.
I was baffled. So I cranked Red and started to work, and I actually had to think hard about which side of the road to drive on, my mind is blown, routine broken.
I'm not kidding about routine. One day Unit wanted me to mail a letter on my way to work, I pass right past the Post Office. Got the letter (an extra item that day, on the way to work), and in turn I left my cell phone behind. Realized it abuot a mile away from home - I'm going back to get my cell. I'm not going all day without my cell.
So I did. Went back home and got the cell and I was so proud of my accomplishment (hey, I remembered my cell) that when I drove away the second time I left the garage door standing wide assed open until Unit discovered it later in the morning and let me know about it.
Routine. In my case, don't sway from it. That's when trouble happens.
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