© Another Day in the Country
There is something in my genetic makeup that wants to get things done fast. It’s been that way as long as I can remember. Once I’ve mastered a task, done it one time, the next time has to be more efficient.
It was like tilting forward, always a little faster, quicker, speedier. Done!
When I was a young fresh-out-of-college-secretary, doing routine office work, this penchant for doing things fast really came in handy. The boss liked it, but I like to drove myself crazy. My mind was constantly thinking, “How can I fold these sheets of paper faster? What technique works best stuffing envelopes?” Stamp licking (remember when we licked stamps?) and how much water to put on the little sponge applicator or whether a rag worked best, became an obsession. I typed like a whirlwind (still do) and talked fast. What’s with this trying to always speed it up?
This fast forward stance sometimes troubles me in real life. For instance, I have these two green bottles with fancy spouts that set near my stovetop: one has olive oil, one canola oil. Filling them is a trick because they have narrow necks and narrow mouths while oil bottles from the grocery store tend to have wide mouths. As I start the trickle of oil towards its designated designer spout, some other-worldly force starts to take hold of me, “I can do this faster,” I say to myself as I dangerously increase the flow and about that time my hand jiggles and oil spills over the side. “Why do you try to do this faster?” I remonstrate.
Putting flour in the canister is another time I notice this urge to speed things up — even though I know it won’t work. Once again the mouth size of the container is nowhere near the outpour of an open bag. I have to consciously hold myself back while pouring.
Does anyone else do this or is it just me? What is this? Some huge urge to “Get ’er done,” I guess, so that I can be on to more important things through which I’ll go as fast as I can?
Every few weeks I color my hair. “It’s time for the shoe-polish,” I say to myself and I get out my Quick and Easy Hair Dye. First step is to pour the contents of one little bottle into another little bottle so that the chemicals can begin to interact. Mentally, I put on the brakes or I’ll have some clear liquid on my countertop turning all shades of brown in a minute or two.
Eating food is another place this “speed it up” comes into play — although I don’t hold a candle to Tooltime Tim. While the food is good, and all that, why must I fork it into my mouth so fast? I have to remind myself, all the time, to s-l-o-w down, chew your food 20 times at least (forget 100 like standard advice) before swallowing.
Even brushing my teeth I tend to hurry. I have a friend who used to stand in front of the sink for what seemed hours brushing his teeth after every meal. “Can you believe him?” his wife used to say, “He’s still in there foaming at the mouth!” Not me! Whether it’s a shower or a toothbrush, I’m in and out in record time.
I watch other folks meander through the day, or the job, just taking their time and I wonder how they do it. The only time I meander is when I walk. I mow my lawns at break-neck speed, cook with the burners on high and get dressed in a flash. After all, there’s a lot to be accomplished on another day in the country!