Holiday STRESS?

I know that MY stress is NOT hi-duty stress, i.e. homelessness, poverty, unemployment, serious illness, death, to name but a few. However, SOME DAYS it is all relative, you know.  It is human nature to feel stress. Apparently, our body even needs stress now and then.

Well, I had mine in spades on Thursday.  I had a day off work to do all the myriad errands, shopping, cooking, baking, gift wrapping, organizing, cleaning, and decorating that we WOMEN do at Christmas.  Notice I said WOMEN?  Because WE are the ones doing all the work. I have always said, "It isn't only the turkey that gets STUFFED every Christmas!" Pardon the vulgar, yet still apropos expression that follows. We women get stuffed too!   I envy men.  They shop a little Christmas Eve, and maybe put up some lights outside?  WHOOP-DE-DOO...

My to-do list that day was as long as my arm, starting off with meeting someone in a parking lot, and transferring some cat food to her, so she can deliver it to a friend of mine who lives an hour away.  I decided to do other errands since I was out, doing what I call my "guerrilla attacks" all over town; gassing up, mailing a Christmas parcel, picking up a library book, dropping off some homemade fudge to my car servicing people, my dog walkers, and my librarian, ending up at the ATM and then lining up in a long line at the bank to deposit a cheque in US funds. I can't even remember all the running around I did in an hour and a half.   DRING!  I get a call  from Costa Rica.  Had I know it was from there, I would not have answered.  My S*T*R*E*S*S level went up 100 percent right then and there!!! Sometimes your stress is palpable, I swear.

I didn't want to deal with this call in the bank, but I had no choice. I finally got rid of the caller, by promising to email him as soon as I got home.  Never mind that he wanted information I had already sent him two months ago, information he now COULD NOT find. Now, I am SUPER stressed. 

Once home I dash off that email, anxiously awaiting an answer.  I am also waiting to hear how a family member is doing after minor surgery, getting updates on how my dog niece Bella is doing after her surgery, and trying to do some cooking, as I have company coming that evening, for drinks and munchies.  My fire alarm keeps going off because I haven't cleaned my oven in the year and half I have lived in this house. DRING!!  A friend wants to give me an update on a former colleague of hers. I can barely hear her over the blaring of the fire alarm, never mind my cooking burning on the stove.  I DON'T have time for that.  I say so honestly, hang up and then feel the guilt.

While I had wanted to accomplish some things, this is NOT how I had envisaged my entire day... a stress meter.  I  had wanted to have time to sip a cup of tea and read my book , OR go on a hike or long walk with Vimy, OR meet up with a  friend I haven't seen in over a month, OR take my elderly mother to visit her sister-in-law, OR visit a few shut-ins with some homemade fudge. None of that happened.

By now it is 3:00. I have a dentist appointment in less than an hour.  I take a quick little cat nap, wake up late, and dash off to my dentist, a fifteen minute drive away.  More errands along the way, but I am a little more relaxed, having received three emails from Costa Rica, where all has been taken care of. Bella and Hermanita are well, as well. I have accomplished most of my to-do list.   I listen to a wonderful holiday CD en route, and am positively C+H+I+L+L by the time I get to the dental clinic.

HOWEVER, as soon as I walk up to the receptionist, I KNOW! I KNOW I have screwed up, M=A=J=O=R. The reason for my visit? To get my new dental appliance adjusted.  Where IS said appliance???  Not in my mouth, where it is SUPPOSED TO BE!!!  IT is at home, in a cup, where I had put it, while I brushed my teeth. ARRGH!!!!  The receptionist smiles, then laughs when I give her my last delivery of the day, a small bag of homemade fudge for my dentist.  It had been intended as a small gift, but it has now become a peace offering?  I realize that fudge is NOT the best thing to give a dentist,  but heck, it's Christmas.

I have another appointment next week.  I do hope I don't get dinged for this one, because I didn't cancel within twenty four hours. :)

YES, I know I am blessed. In spades!