What To Do Over The 4th


Doesn’t life seem to be a series of To-Do Lists?

  • There is the Work To-Do List. I have about 50 entries on mine with only a dozen scratched out.
  • There is the Home To-Do List, which is often presented to me by my wife on Friday morning. Sometimes I am given two – one for chores around the house and a list of errands. Isn’t that piling on?
  • There is the Be-Nice To-Do List. The items on this list are usually friendship and community driven – visit a good friend’s 90-year-old mother, work in the church garden, give blood, etc.
  • And who could forget the I-Want-To-Be-A-Better-Husband-Father-Nephew-Uncle-Cousin To-Dos. This list is endless and you don’t have enough time on this earth to complete it, but you know you need a few check-offs every week if you hope to get the heavenly nod.   

I have been told on more than one occasion that I should consider my To-Do Lists to be My Opportunities List. Well, that’s never going to happen. I can only play so many word games with myself.

However, given the fact that my amazing wife, Nancy, understands that “boys will be boys,” her To-Dos around a holiday are both minimal and essential – i.e. “Don’t forget we need charcoal for the cookout tomorrow night!”

So I am going into Fourth of July week in great spirits because I love celebrating our country’s declaration of independence from Great Britain – and, yes, I will get to play a fair amount of golf with my friends. This will be a wonderful week with a short but manageable list of To-Dos.*

Here’s a toast to our great country, understanding wives and to golf, the world’s greatest game

Play Away!

Allan (My Index is 10.5, but the trend is 10.9. However, that will still translate to a 12 handicap on my home course.)

 

* I must admit that my “wonderful week” could turn into an “okay week” if my chipping doesn’t improve.


3 comments


  • Ken Tuchtan

    Allan – I hope you viewed Lisa and I this weekend wandering around the Avenel Golf course (where we happen to live) following Gary Woodland (KANSAS) as he played the Quicken Loans (Tiger Wood Tournament. Nothing but fun in the 100 degree heat


  • Bob

    The older we get, the more the 4th is just another day, feeding livestock, and the memories are mixed. How about getting together with a few guys I graduated with to listen to some of the.antics that have happened since 1970.


  • Cowherd

    Allan: If you haven’t already, you must read The Checklist Manifesto, by Atul Gawande. Topical also because Atul has been in the news lately. And readers, if you go here to buy the book https://www.amazon.com/Checklist-Manifesto-How-Things-Right/dp/0312430000/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1530298609&sr=8-1&keywords=checklist+manifesto
    why not buy a 1502 hat while you are at it?


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