How to know you assume too much
Have you ever wondered about the title theme? Have you taken on too much without being aware of it? This article shows you an example and how you can be careful next time.
I remember getting up in the morning and going through the daily chores and rituals, which include praying and checking emails. I remember going to the nearby bank to pay the phone bill and to the neighboring supermarket to buy bread for mom, who would be coming home that night after a fortnight.
I stuck a voucher on my brother’s door, saying: Order two packs of the mixed fried rice, prawn sauce and mixed vegetables that you usually buy at Boomers and also for yourself if you want. In addition, I said that the order should arrive home at 8:00 pm, although mom was meant to come home after midnight.
I remember making boiled rice, mashed potatoes, and salad for lunch. My brother was having dinner with one or more of his friends. So he was alone.
I made a phone call to a man remembering his truck to take my mother home. I didn’t get it on the first call, but on the second call. I asked for the driver’s cell phone and name and put the information on Facebook so Mom could find it easily.
I boiled water in a large pot, which will be used for the family to drink. Then at about 5pm I called my brother who was still out if he had placed the order. He said that every time he orders, they will be home in a few minutes. On a hunch, I wondered if the Boomers would be open at 8 pm and told him: Place your order now. The restaurant may not be open at 20:00.
I went to evening prayer and soon after, the delivery man rang the doorbell. He said it cost Tk506. He didn’t have Tk6 and I gave him Tk510 and asked him to give me TK4. He could only give Tk2 and had to be satisfied with that.
In the meantime, the pot of water was simmering to the boil and when the water level dropped below a certain mark, I turned off the stove.
Then I started cleaning the kitchen. I threw away one of the food packages I had eaten for dinner around 8pm. The other pack had lost its heat for another hour. So I put it in the fridge since mom would be home much later.
Then the doorbell rang again and this time it was my brother.
I carefully cleared the table and put the finishing touches on the kitchen and dumped all the rubbish that had already accumulated down the garbage chute. It was already 10 pm. I had to stay awake for over two more hours.
I fiddled with my laptop and logged into Facebook and saw some of the short messages left by mom and regretted not seeing them sooner and now it was almost time for her to come home.
I realized that he had been very busy all day. I stretched out my legs on the bed and rested my head on the pillow. But I was excited Mom would be home!
At 11.10 pm, my row of phones, who do you think it was? Yes, it was mom calling me. She said that she would be home soon and there was no need to worry.
I kept my phone by my side. I thought about when would be a good time to call her back so that she would be in the van with her luggage on the way home. I rigged it to be around 12.30am.
Guess what there was a buzzer on the door at 12.15am. And she was mom! After the driver brought her carry-on and his suitcase, he sat in my room to chat. It turned into a long talk and hours passed until I told her to eat and freshen up.
I went to shower and returned to my room unable to stay awake any longer. In the morning I couldn’t wake up and write the book I was writing. I slept and slept. It was at this point that I realized that I assumed too much the day before. I was constantly working and also chatting with mom for long hours, so I couldn’t keep the schedule this morning. Next time he intended to be more careful.
I’ll cut back on some of my chores the day mom comes home. I will have a minimum of work to do on days like this. I will reduce the length of the talk, if any. I will retire to bed as soon as possible. Then I’ll make sure I stay on schedule and I won’t have to sleep like a dog late in the morning.
Actually, honestly speaking, I had taken too much care of myself. Bugs like this can be fixed after the first experience in the ways I mentioned above.
