As the wheel slows and stops
Today was the final shift in another working year. Our calendars are such that we have any number of dates which must be respected: January 01, for another date change. April 30, for the fiscal reports. July 01 for the replenishment of sick days available, our birthdays, etc. Today is the start of vacation time.
The date varies from year to year, and the duration of my annual leave is subject to any number of factors, but the final shift is relaxed. Many in the office have already “hit the road”, and the afternoon before a weekend suffers from decaying attendance, so I just look forward to “time to catch the bus”. I know that my body will continue to awake at dawn for a few more days, and that the weekend doesn’t really count, but come late August I’ll have to overcome inertia to get back to this place. So be it. Between now and then, I’ll have to find some other way to annoy myself.
This year, I’ve chosen to be absent for five whole weeks. My telephone message has been edited, and the noisy appliance is set to go directly into voice mail. I’ve cleaned off my desk, to the best of my abilities, and the chair is tucked neatly in. Such a difference will be noticed immediately by others, because my cubicle is not one chosen for photo layouts. My nickname is NOT “Neat Freak”. My computer is off for the duration.
