Do you know the phrase, “The hurrier I go, the behinder I get?” That’s how I have been feeling lately. Every time I finish a project, another seems to pop up that I just can’t say no to.

The request was made for me to help with the going-away party for a friend. She is now going to be living with one of her children, but the neighbors want to have a party. Now how hard could that be? It will be a potluck at her friend’s house, and I have the list of people to contact. The list is about 30 people long. I manufactured invitations on the computer, printed them out, addressed the envelopes and sent them out.

The first phone call came at 6 a.m. three days after they were mailed.

“Are you assigning us what to bring to the potluck?”

I answered, “No, it’s a potluck. Bring whatever you want.”

“But we might end up with all salads or all desserts?”

“That is a possibility, but that would be OK.”

“But what kind of a dinner will it be if we don’t have a balanced meal?”

“It’s a chance we’ll have to take at this party.”

The second phone call came at 9:30 that same day. “What happens if more people come than we have food for?” I answered, “That isn’t likely.” “Well, I guess we could order pizza.” I answered, “That isn’t likely.”

And the phone calls went on. “What if it rains?” “Is there room enough for all of us inside?” “What if the kids get rowdy? Can they play outside?” “How many steps is there into the house? Do they have a chair-lift?”

The party went off without a hitch and the food was varied and good. One activity finished.

The evening before this going-away party, I was asked to be part of a group that plans a conference. “I don’t think I could be of much value,” I said. “I’ve never done that before.” They countered, “We think you would add a lot to this group” … so I went to the meeting. The meeting lasted from 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Nothing was finalized. No date for this conference, no theme, no guests to be invited, no agenda talked about and no second meeting planned. I think I’m going to opt out of this group.

When I got home from the all-day meeting, I found a notice in the mail of a book signing, and would I like to help arrange it? Of course I said yes — that’s what I do. That event went off without much of a hitch, but at the end a lady approached me to ask if I could come talk to her group. Their next meeting was in July, but in Seattle.

I will tell you that I agreed to this latest request but I’m drawing the line right here. I am taking the month of August off. No meetings (except for a picnic here and there), no committee work and I will not be in charge of any gatherings.

Now that I made this pronouncement, wish me luck. I’m a sucker for an interesting gig.

— Contact Donna Lee Anderson  at WellToldTales@aol.com.