Rhythms

I understand musical rhythms. I am not very good with them, but I manage my daily routines with a rhythm that works. Always has. Until now.

At 80, something interrupts the flow of the rhythm of daily life. Suddenly, a life of order, routine and rhythm, is disjointed from time to time. the keys are left in a place not usual, same with other items of daily living. The result is a lost and found exercise best left to younger people!

I used to tease Rocky that he continually lost things because he simply did not adhere to a daily routine with rhythm – do task one this way, task two that way, put things here and here, where they can always be found no matter what. He didn’t listen to me. Instead, he became a master of lost and found. Well, normally, it was me who found the missing and misplaced.

That is just one example of daily rhythms of life. Calendar management is another example. I make doctor appointments for early in the day. Period. That way I can get up early as usual, perform the early tasks of the day, get to the doctor’s office, meet, leave and return home in plenty of time to resume the scheduled and appointed activities. The afternoon is left for rests, naps, lunching and working on projects for future appointments. The evening is always reserved for TV and early to bed.

This rhythm has been my mainstay for decades. Same when I was commuting. Up early, do the gym exercises, read the paper, shower/shave dress for the day, and drive/train to the office. Early, to beat traffic and office interruptions. The university police knew my routine cold, greeting me by phone for every doorway I passed through tripping the security system. Got to the office by 4:30 or 5 in those days. Left at 4:30 and endured the one rush hour I subjected myself to. Then early supper, office paperwork and thence to bed. Repeat the next day.

Weekends were the same schedule just filled with different activities. Sometimes it involved a visit to the office, mostly not. Household chores undoable during the week were saved for the weekends.

Today’s rhythm is more slowly paced but engaged just the same. Interrupt that rhythm and all hell comes forth. I try not to allow that to happen. The hell part is less survivable these days!

And so it goes, errands done, household chores consummated, and things not lost. Nor time lost. No, all is in order. The guard is up for change. One allows it when important, but not as an interruption to daily rhythms. That would not be a good thing. No, indeed.

March 20, 2024