In Pursuit of Boredom

by Bethany Maines

‘Tis the day before Christmas and all through the house all the adults were panicking because… apparently, that’s what adults do?  I swear when I was a kid there was not this much holiday panic. Did my parents just have it more together?  I remember the cleaning freak-out of throwing everything in a closet moments before guests arrive, but I don’t remember all of this “NOT ENOUGH TIME.” 

I don’t mind being old. There are those that say I’ve been a grumpy old man since I was 21.  Which I dispute; I’m not a man for one thing.  And I don’t believe I’m grumpy, so much as, based in a reality that doesn’t like to admit idiots.  Anyway, I don’t mind being old.  There’s lots of wisdom to be gained in the aging process, but I do wish we could go back to the childhood days when I used to get bored.  Being bored takes an extended amount of time.  You have to have a good run of nothing to do and Wheel of Fortune re-runs to get well and truly bored.  And who has time for that anymore?  I have a hard time squeezing in the hours to read a good book (let alone write one)!

So for Christmas, if you want to give me a gift – don’t. Or better yet, give me the gift of not asking me to do anything. Just join me on the couch for another viewing of Die Hard (a great Christmas movie) and pass the cookie tin.  I wish the same to you and yours this holiday season! 

Bethany Maines is the author of the Carrie Mae Mystery series and Tales from the City of Destiny. You can also view the Carrie Mae youtube video or catch up with her on Twitter and Facebook.