I was a writer of lists most of my life, even as a teen. To remind myself of what I felt I needed to accomplish on my time off, to keep assignments organized, to keep on track with my duties at home. We all had those; chores specific to our responsibilities. Carol and I were assigned outside chores. Judy was mom's helper.
I listed extras, like when I was requested to help Grandma clean her house, wash walls, prepare winter clothes and bedding for airing or washing.
I even made lists from the Sears catalog. The only income I had was from occasional babysitting.
As that wasn't a favourite task, my jottings were in fact a wish list. A pretty sweater, a basic skirt, a gift for a sibling: all were recorded, if only I could afford it.
As a young wife and mom, I found list-making a way of keeping order in my busy life. I could prioritize what needed accomplishing right away and what needed doing soon: a fine but definite distinction. Sometimes my life seemed so hectic; taking time to pen a list was a task that of itself was soothing, a time-out for me.
My home life is quiet and peaceful now but lists still have their place. We have occasional family functions. My list helps me plan the meal, as we often have potluck: one household is assigned the veggie dish, another home the salad and dessert. The host home invariably receives the turkey and gravy task, logically, it being the largest, most wieldy object and needing to be kept hot.
I do make a grocery list, although it often chooses to remain at home, refusing to get into the car with me. Still, the simple act of having recorded the list helps me follow it in my mind. Knowing that my trip to the Co-op was with the intent of purchasing the ingredients for Christmas dinner makes it clear.
I am still one of the old-fashioned letter/card writers. For that endeavour I certainly keep lists. I retain the Christmas list for several years. I send most recipients a few copies of previous articles as well as my letter and greetings. My aim is to avoid sending identical selections several years running. I also correspond with several friends regularly and those letters get noted as well. It is quite simple: a list of the year, the month and the name of each person. Beside the name, I record an abbreviated notation of the title of my article.
In my spare closet I have a large box nearly filled with newspaper clippings. I tend to save 8-10 copies of each article and keep them in chronological order, roughly. I say roughly as when I pen my next letter and check which article my correspondent last received, I proceed to rout through the pile for a selection suitable to their interest. Fortunately I also keep a listing of each article published and the appropriate date. If I am paying attention, I can ensure everyone receives regular copies of stories that will in some way relate to them. But not always!
One of my relatives, on answering my phone call, expressed surprise that she had not yet received her Christmas card. I guess my sticking to pattern also has become a pattern for her.
I aim to have completed the Christmas correspondence by the first few days of December. I was a little late starting this year, but still completed on time. I don't keep a master to-do-list but if I did, I could cross off: Christmas correspondence, decorating and cleaning the house, family Christmas dinner.
I like to share with my family early, as I usually work and everyone is then free to celebrate as they need to on the 25th. Then my decorations come down, the good dishes are re-wrapped and put away, the extra chairs returned to storage.
By the end of the month I take the stack of Christmas cards and letters and write again to several of them. Often the envelopes cross in the mail and we really haven't connected.
