“I think many people have this sense that something about modern society … has approached a point where living in the world feels somewhat unhealthy.”
Michael Finkel, author and journalist
Every morning I plan my day and make lists. As quickly as the thoughts came, I remembered women I had seen in a Honduras village. I’ll call this one Abagail.
Abagail wakes each morning and puts on her long straight cotton skirt and a T-shirt with “All that Jazz” printed on the front. The shirt came from a missionary box. She slides on flip-flops, also from the missionary box. A headscarf covers her hair. She spends no time deciding what to wear. She looks beautiful. She’s tall, slim and strong. A toddler at her feet, a baby on her hip, her thoughts are food for the day and drawing clean water. She may work the garden, wash clothes on a rock in the village, or go to the mission where she can sit outside on a concrete floor with the other women stringing beads to sell, or separating and bagging seeds the mission workers provide for the garden. Later she walks the dirt road back to her home, passing the sugar cane field where she takes a snip for the children. It’s a treat. It’s not good for their teeth, but it is a treat where treats are few. Abagail’s life is hard, but it’s simple. It’s what she knows.
I had three calendars — in my purse, in my writing room, on my office desk — until I transferred everything to my phone. Last week my phone went dead for 24 hours and I panicked and bought calendars again. They sell 12-month calendars for people like me starting in July.
My days are filled with work, appointments and commitments. I fill in birthdays and anniversaries on the calendars. There will be cards and presents to buy. Then doctor’s appointments — dentist, primary physician, a wellness check, dermatologist, ophthalmologist, gynecologist, chiropractor — massage therapist, hairdresser, veterinarian. Medical appointments require more appointments: mammogram, bone density, colonoscopy, pharmacist, optician.
Exercise classes are scheduled five days a week and change seasonally. I write them on my new calendars so I’ll know where to go and when.
Then come regular activities such as church services, fellowship gatherings, changing bulletin boards, Sunday School lessons, neighborhood lunches, meeting with friends, weekend company, sporting events, special occasions, weddings and reunions.
Not to forget listing weekly shopping — groceries, housewares, clothing and footwear, garden center, post office and bank. Gas the car, check prices on new tires, and have the oil changed. Meet with the windshield repair guy for that nick on the windshield. If there’s time, run through the car wash. Drop off the recycle. Items cleared from the garage and closets donated at the thrift store. Stop by the bookstore, the library and the coffee shop. Home to text, email and check the 24-hour news. Gather clothing, wash, dry, fold, put away, cook and clean, feed animals.
Crazy as it is, I’m oh so grateful to live in this country with all its abundance and opportunities, but there are those isolated moments I think about Abagail and would like to walk with her down the dirt road, string beads, snip sugar cane and laugh in the sun.
Email reaches Shannon Bardwell of Columbus at [email protected].
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