Summer in C’ville

I’m not sure how much I like summertime. Well, that’s not exactly true. I think I have a love-hate relationship with summer. The first few weeks are wonderful: I really get to rest for the first time in months [spring is always a mad dash--the earth itself is making a mad dash at new life]. The recovery from the grind is wonderful, and I gain some much needed perspective.

But after the first couple of weeks, I find myself wondering what to do with the rest of the summer. I suppose since most of my life to this point has been spent counting time by the academic calendar, it makes sense. Most of my relationships, excepting family and a few others, are almost put on hold for the summer, or at least part of it. I suppose I associate a disconnected feeling with summer.

I suppose I get used to the round of life during the academic year, and summer is an aberration to that schedule, and I suppose I also must confess that I sometimes do not quite know what to do with lots of free time. I’m just not used to having much free time, and am slowly learning what the word “relax” means. American culture, while often quite entertainment driven and selfish, does not do too much in teaching people how to actually relax, take a moment to think, slow down the pace. I wish I was better at that.

But this summer maybe I will learn a little more balance. I know June is almost gone, but I am hopeful for July and August. Maybe this time I can balance actually spending time with people with taking moments to stop and think about life [and maybe I can actually play the piano again and remind myself how to watercolor]. I am house-sitting for a family who is gone for the entire month of July, so I am here with the cat, learning how to live by myself. I’m not sure how much I’ll like living alone, but maybe it will be good for me. You never can tell.

On the Job

While there are many days where things are quiet [some are downright boring] at work, there are occasional interesting things that occur. Here are some of of the best phone calls I have received this week:

1. Someone named “Max” called. This person had an extremely androgynous voice, so now I cannot use personal pronouns for him/her. Maxine? Maximilian? Maximus??

2. On a contacts form I saw that a woman was a “Church Secret.” Fascinating.
[That's way more exciting than being a secretary! And I suppose technically this wasn't a phone call, but I thought it worthy of mention.]

3. A woman called today asking for help paying utilities. She said she was from Dumfries, VA. I told her our organization helped people in Albemarle County. Her response, “Albemarle Co. –where’s that?”
I knew that was a bad sign. When I said “Charlottesville,” she still sounded confused. I think she lives a little too far away for us to help.

4. We also got the obligatory wrong number calls; one from a guy trying to order pizza from domino’s, and another from someone wanting Piedmont Pediatrics.

5. A woman called saying she was tutoring a girl for the GED. The woman was either a) tired of giving all the answers or b) wasn’t exactly sure what to do –I don’t quite know which– so she asked me if I would give the answer. The problem: There are 25 dozen eggs at $3 a dozen. How much money does it cost to buy all the eggs?
[The moral of the story: learn your multiplication tables.]

I can’t wait to see what calls I get today….