The List

I have been thinking about lists a lot lately.  Perhaps it is because I am just getting old and often need to make them to remind myself of things.  Perhaps it is just genetics.  Women on both sides of my family are famous for their lists.

My mother actually makes lists of things to talk to me about on the phone.  We have never had the pleasure of living close enough to just pop over for coffee and a chat.  Our conversations have had to happen usually over long distance phone calls, so we have had to make the most of our time.  Mom likes to keep a piece of paper near the phone and quickly record all she needs to share with me as she thinks of it.  We have been known not hang up until the list is completed.  I wish I had some of the past lists now.  They would be like small diaries of our mundane moments and life-changing talks.

 I recently inherited my paternal grandmother's beautiful old dining room set and, there, tucked away in the silver drawer of the buffet, was a list my grandmother had made many years ago of all of the people she was having over one December afternoon for a big lunch.  I love thinking about her weathered hand moving down the paper as she thought about and recorded our names in anticipation of our all too seldom visits.  My grandmother was not an exeptionally warm and affectionate woman.  Her love demonstrated itself through her exceptional cooking and homemaking and through the lists she made of people or food so the meal would be perfect. I miss her hands and wish I had saved more of the lists they made.

And so, today I am leaving a list for my daughters.  It doesn't contain anything important. It is just a snapshot of the things that are on my mind today.  It is just the things I need to do.  It is me being me. Who knows.  Maybe someday, forty years from now, my girls will find this and will remember my hands on this keyboard...

1. finish filling out Grace's birthday invitations
2. put all the cords where they belong that I found while cleaning closets
3. gather the tax information
4. see why the check engine light is on in my car
5. register for my teaching recertification hours
6. pass back graded papers in class
7. prepare to teach "The Pearl" by Steinbeck
8. get caught up on laundry
9. decide to go to the beach no matter what
10. buy plane tickets to Texas for Spring break