Running Late

April 6, 2011

I've been doing the same job for three years, and for those last three years, I've had a fairly consistent meeting schedule. Every first and third Tuesday of the month, I have a committee meeting at seven o'clock in the morning. So, according to my calculations, I just attended my seventy-second early morning meeting.

Needless to say, I'm completely used to this schedule. So used to it, that if I'm ever taken hostage, the second thing I'll probably say is, "We're gonna need to settle this out before my executive committee meeting next Tuesday morning." You know, right after I say, "If you don't buy me a box of ice cream sandwiches on the way to your secret cave, you have no idea how much you'll regret picking me."

Jared on the other hand, he's jusssssssst, getting used to this arrangement. I don't blame him. Some times it takes me three-thousand reminders and seventy-something dry runs to let something settle in, too. Like losing five pounds--pretty sure I'm on try number ninety.

Yesterday was one of my meeting days, and Jared was so incredibly proud of himself for not scheduling any early morning patients. He got a sticker and a rub on the head for his remembering skills. Unfortunately for him, my meeting ran late, and even though his remembering skills were a force to be reckoned with, his spur of the moment problem solving skills weren't ready to cope with a situation of such magnitude.

I pulled in to the driveway to find a stunned/confused looking husband, and two crying kids. The kids were crying because they were hungry, and Jared, well, Jared always looks a little turned around:

"Sorry I'm late," I said.

"The kids haven't eaten," he replied.

"Why not?"

This question was answered with a blank stare, a shrug of the shoulders, and a sincere, "I don't know."

"Well," I went on, "did you make yourself a lunch?"

This time he looked down at his feet.

"You didn't pack a lunch? What have you been up to for the last half hour?"

"I don't know," which again, was sincere. "I guess I was just standing here, wondering if you'd get home in time to make my lunch for me."

I love him, I swear I do.