Of Primary Concern

"Too many of us have too many irons in the fire. We get distracted by the intellectual claim to our interest in a thousand and one good things, and before we know it we are pulled and hauled breathlessly along by an over-burdened program of good committees and good undertakings. . . . The concern-oriented life is ordered and organized from within. And we learn to say No as well as Yes by attending to the guidance of inner responsibility. . . .  And I am persuaded that concerns introduce that simplification, and along with it that intensification which we need in opposition to the hurried, superficial tendencies of our age." Thomas Kelly

All that to say . . . this weekend I am CONCERNED with doing laundry and making lists and packing for the beach.

Poor Daphne does not suspect that her comfortable napping place

in the bedroom closet, on my sweaters, is about to be dismantled and aired out!

In November, it will be two years since Mark's job was moved to Hot Springs, and we subsequently decided to keep this house as home base. There were a number of reasons why pulling up stakes and moving the whole family to Arkansas at that time felt wrong. We paid attention to those feelings, and arranged our lives in concert with them.

When Mark comes home for a bit, whether he's home for meetings in Richmond, or for holidays or vacations, there are a million little things for him to do. Last visit, he hauled soil to build up an area near the foundation of the house that wasn't draining well and changed the oil in the vehicles and fixed the toilet that runs and -- well, you get the idea. Not very relaxing.

To Do. Done!

So, this time we're vacationing at the beach! Meredith and Joseph are coming for a week and Mark's mom is coming for a few days, and, most importantly, we can relax and be together as a family without a "To Do" list hanging over Mark's head! Mark and Jesse are training for the Richmond Marathon in November and will be able to run together at the beach. Joseph and Meredith are in charge of bringing games-other-than-Monopoly, and, because we are getting old and losing our faculties, we are bringing Hector with us. (I know, I know, just shush now!) Note to self: pack Frisbee

I get anxious when I think about all of the lists of arrangements to be made -- ask someone to take care of Daphne, stop the mail, remind three guitar teachers we won't be here for lessons, etc., etc. I'll feel better when I have a few piles of clean clothes and towels ready to pack, a few lists and reminders posted.

"The concern-oriented life is ordered and organized from within." Okey dokey, then -- this weekend, the primary concern is order and organizing and completing lists and preparing for family time at the beach!