Reflections: Keeping track of dates enters modern age; pocket organizer makes way for tech
I looked at the calendar on my phone recently and had to chuckle.
It wasn't that long ago that I carried a pocket organizer and wrote in what I had to do. This organizer included all the phone numbers I used for work.
At one point many years ago, town officials used to ask me to check my organizer to see if there were conflicts before they scheduled special meetings.
Then I stopped carrying a pocketbook or briefcase. My back thanked me, but I had a much harder time keeping track of what was happening. I used a large desk calendar in my office.
If I was going to do anything, I checked that calendar first. And it wasn't easy. My desk was always a mess, with piles of work to get through, so I would have to declutter just to see what else I had to add to my to-do list.
Then, we closed our Clinton office and I moved my work space into my living room. I no longer had space to put a desk calendar out and I found no place to hang a calendar for easy access.
Yes, I carry a smart phone, but I was never smart enough to use it... until circumstances demanded it.
So now, I look on my phone calendar to see what I have to do.
And in May and June, practically every day has a dot, denoting the fact that I have something scheduled. It is rarely something purely fun. Most days, there are things to cover, stories to check on and deadlines to be met.
The reason for my recent chuckle was that I also have discovered "holidays" that apparently Apple feels I need to celebrate. Take the dot on May 1. It denotes "First Day of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month." While it is worthy, I was not planning to run out and get a cake.
Scratch that, cake is always worthwhile.
May 5? It is Cinco de Mayo. OK, maybe that deserves a marguerita and a churro, rather than a cake.
I sometimes miss the hand-written pocket organizer. I liked being in control. And I miss not having to go through the motions someone else dictates to find out Nov. 1 is the "First Day of American Indian Heritage Month." At least I have time to research the appropriate celebration.
Jan Gottesman is managing editor of The Item. She can be reached at email@example.com.