Friday, March 30, 2007

on time

When we were growing up, there seemed to be a problem getting anywhere on time. We never
made it to Sunday School for the opening song. When we went to the movies we got there after
the 7 o'clock movie started. We had to stay for the beginning of the 9 o'clock move to see how
it all began. Back in those days, they showed the same move twice. Even after we moved five miles closer to town we were still late. Maybe because there were so many of us and only one
bathroom. Although until I was 13, it was a two- seater north of the house. (The good old days?)
We did manage to get to school on time. Maybe because Mom didn't have to get ready to go,
and Dad was our transportation.
Now, maybe because of always being late, I am more apt to be 1/2 hour early than 5 minutes
late. If we are waiting for friends to pick us up, we are probably in our coats and looking out
the window at least 10 minutes before the appointed time. Is it rude to be 10 minutes early to
a party? Or better to be fasionably late? I get a little impatient with people who are always late.
I don't like waiting, but making someone wait for me is more unacceptable.
One of my co-workers is always 5 to 10 minutes late. This person comes in 5 to 10 minutes late,
but makes up for it by not getting out the door at the appointed time. The lunch hour becomes
the lunch 65 minutes. Since the required hours are put in, I guess this is acceptable.
I realize that at times things beyone our control happen to make us late, but if latness is the
norm, it seems there should be some adjustments made.
The truck driver husband can check a map and figure the miles and type of road (4-lane ,
2-lane, or interstate) and guess within an hour what time he will reach his destination even if
it is 500 to 1500 miles away. I guess that come from 40+ years of practice. When I ask him
how long it will take to reach point B, his answer is "It depends on who is driving."

Nice rains the last couple of days. Thankful it is not more snow. The daffodils are blooming.
I wish they could last a little longer they are so pretty. The lawn mower is ready to go, whoopee? Some of the neighbors have already mowed once.

Jacob has his lat wrestling meet tomorrow. Abby will be confirmed this Sunday. There are
3 confirmands in her little church. Kendra and George will not be able to make it to the service
because Kendra is in the bell choir in her church. When you are in a bell choir, you have to be
there. One missing bell can mess up the whole presentation.

Sue

6 comments:

Myrnagj said...

OH...I could have written your comments on being on time. I am famous in the family for grounding Denise for two weeks for being two minutes late. One of her housekeeping clients complimented her on being on time and she told her it was because of me.

Paulette and David seem to have gotten beyond that incident because they can be late...

Myrnagj said...

OH...I could have written your comments on being on time. I am famous in the family for grounding Denise for two weeks for being two minutes late. One of her housekeeping clients complimented her on being on time and she told her it was because of me.

Paulette and David seem to have gotten beyond that incident because they can be late...

Janell said...

I think chronic tardiness is a feeble attempt to maintain control over a person's environment or other people. But it's also EXTREMELY rude and if I find i am going to be more than 5 minutes late for something, I'd rather cancel. Remember our Christmas dinner at Tammie's and how we were 30-45 minutes late? That was all Randy's fault. The Carsons have their own "Time Zone" which gives me an idea for a story on OSM.
love,
Janell
ps - GREAT essay

cdroses said...

I absolutely HATE being late! I was 30 minutes early for class, last night. I wanted to give myself enough time to "get lost". Ended up wandering the halls at SCC, wasting time.

George can manage to get his truckloads to their destinations on time. But if I want to be somewhere at a certain time, I have to tell him a time 30 minutes earlier than what I really want.

Kendra's always early. Jaydee's usually 5 minutes late. (Gee they were this way with birth vs. expected dates! go figure)

Janell said...

Dr. Phil says chronic lateness is just plain arrogance. it is purpose driven by most.

Shirley

LaDawn said...

Agree with chronic lateness is incocsiderate and a power play by most people who don't even realise that it is a power play.

Also agree with the comment about how long it takes to get somewhere depends on who is driving. But also, where they are going. I can get to the grocery store and back in under a half hour. Same trip takes my husband always more than an hour. Same for trips to the hardware store.