We all know addictions are harmful. Of course, when we think
of addictions we think of drugs, alcohol, gambling, smoking, etc. But there are
all kinds of addictions and all of them can be harmful in some way. I, for one,
am addicted to routine.
If I was lounging on a sofa in a psychologist’s office, I’m
sure I would discover I can blame this addiction on my parents. First, I was
born a military brat. And surely a Naval officer demands order and routine.
Second, my mother is of Scottish blood. And have you ever met a Scot who
doesn’t do things in an orderly manner? But, ultimately, it was just the way I
was born. Ask my sister Katey. I had to put everything in order before we could
play with our toys. And Mom tells the story of when I wasn’t quite two, we had
moved to Texas and our furniture had yet to catch up with us. So I wouldn’t get
crumbs all over the house, I was told to sit in one spot on the floor when I
ate my meals. Even when the table did arrive, I took my plate to my spot on the
floor.
Of course, like anything that’s new, it takes a little while
to get into a routine. When I arrived at camp in February, it felt like chaos.
Truthfully I’m not sure if that’s because it was all so new to me or quilt
retreats are that way…I’ll find out this fall when round two hits. And while I
was trying to get a handle on the event taking place, I was constantly learning
to look three or four months into the future at the events coming up. There was
more than one thing I forgot to do until the last minute and that always throws
me for a loop. In February, I was gazing at the summer with not a little
trepidation…
I have since discovered that the summer brings routine. And
that is where I thrive. On Sunday, the kids arrive and I work nearly a full day
with registration. On Monday, I clean up from Sunday and tidy that event up,
finalizing my reports even though the event has just started, but those reports
aren’t going to change so I can finish it off. On Tuesday, I have a staff
meeting, prepare the mailing for what week (which Brittany’s junior program
staff stuff in envelopes for me) and pull the last reports for the present week
of camp: numbers on how many photos to order, list of who is authorized to pick
up the kids at the end of the week, and prepare cash party labels (for the
money the kids don’t use that week). Wednesday is my day off. On Thursday
during Super Kids (ages 8 to 11), chaos erupts as the kids leave. I also
prepare my report to do the mailing for next week, make sure things are in
order to put my cabins together for next week and tidy up loose ends. Fridays
are last days of camp for Junior High and Senior High weeks and sometimes I go
home early. Although I work at home spread out on my living room floor actually
doing the cabin assignments (my favorite part of summer camp!). On Saturday,
I’m up at camp for a few hours putting my reports together for Sunday. In the
midst of all that; the phone rings, e-mails need to be answered and summer
registrations continue to trickle in a few at a time. I am thoroughly enjoying
my summer.
Last week, however, was family camp. And my routine came to
a screeching halt. In all honesty, I hardly knew what I was doing with myself.
Although some things had to be done as normal, so many things didn’t have to
happen that I felt a little lost, and off kilter and, therefore, frustrated.
There is nothing more annoying to me than lack of routine. Thankfully, I’m not
a forthright person most of the time because I felt quite short tempered and
easily irritated by people who were only adding to my lack of routine. By
Saturday, as I processed my reports (and there are nearly 15 of them I have to
piece together), I felt much better. I don’t know what I’m going to do when
camp ends the middle of August…
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