Scraps of paper

 

Years ago my aunt told me that in order to make sure that she accomplished everything she intended, she made lists and notes for herself. Of course I thought she was a little crazy and just plain forgetful. My mother didn’t even make out a grocery list. I only needed to do about four things a day, and I could certainly remember those! The idea of me writing notes to me was ludicrous.

I thought about my aunt and smiled as I sat down at the computer this morning. In front of the monitor is the note I wrote to myself last night. I was just too tired to print out a couple of things I need for school today, so I wrote myself a reminder for this morning. On my other desk is a note about something I need to do tomorrow. In the kitchen is a note pad for grocery lists. On my desk at school is a note about three upcoming events in November. I have detention duty today and I will spend it making a list of things I need to research next week at the genealogy library.

I have finally come to the point in my life when my memory- or perhaps just my recall- can’t accommodate everything I need to remember! Those scraps of paper are the reason I stay organized and sane. Maybe that was the key factor that was lacking when my aunt first advised me- I just wasn’t old enough to understand the need for notes.

Now I write notes all day long! I begin in the morning with anything I need to remember to do when I get to school and that note goes in my purse next to my school key. At breakfast I write down the names of children who want the optional sandwich instead of hot lunch and that note stays in my pocket until lunch time. Notes during the day about students and about lessons. School supplies shopping list for WalMart. Notes for the weekend. Notes for next month. Then it’s home to write more notes.

Of course now I have another problem to take care of, beginning this weekend if I have time. I need to throw away some scraps of paper! I am just a bit paranoid about destroying some of my notes too early, so I have lots of scraps of paper that are piled in file trays on the top shelf of my desk. I have email addresses that have already been entered into the computer, genealogy requests that have already been answered, passwords that have been memorized, birthdays that have been written on the calendar, lists of plants that have been purchased, and blogs that have been typed. Time to toss!

My note for tomorrow says that I’m going shopping for a coat and brown socks. Then I’m going to clean the office and work in the yard. Have you made your list?

P.S. I thought you might enjoy this lovely photo of me at my drafting desk in 1976!

Comments

[Megan]

I use a three ring binder to manage my household because I can't get through the day without all the notes. Or get everything done in one day. Or if I need a phone number, I can flip back to last week and it's right there. And file my kid's stuff, my church stuff, bills to pay, etc. It's my family binder.

I use a three ring binder for my preschool.

I use an large accordion file for my coupons filed by date and a small one for stuff I think we may need or want to keep an eye out. I use a single subject notebook to create my grocery list unless it's a few items and then I have a small notepad from you dedicated to that subject when creating the list from the categorized magnetized list on my fridge where Trent and I both check off milk or bread or whatever we just depleted.

And I still don't feel organized enough.

I guess what I'm saying is don't feel bad about your notes. I lost my mind years before you did. : )

[Megan]

And a double accordion file for my preschool handouts/papers by month (which end up being by subject matter.

And, and, and, and.