Three and a half years ago, my life included cable television and internet access at home. I included a couple of on-line classes in my studies to earn my advanced accounting certificate (I already had my college degree). And I had both my cell phone and landline with fax/copier/scanner hooked up.
Then, we moved in with my in-laws and have not had internet or cable again. Eventually we did get a usb stick to have internet, but limited minutes. And then my daughter got her Ipad, and we used the free wifi at coffee shops and local library.
Technology is a part of our lives, and understanding it can make life much easier. But relying on it can make life rough also.
For the past several months, my smart phone has been my connection to many things. Internet and emails (updates on field conditions and weather), Facebook (where I was kept up to date on my cousin's recovery from falling off a 15 foot cliff), communications in general via text or phone calls. It was my camera, instantly uploading pictures to my Google account. It was the entertainment for my 2 1/2 year old who got a little anxious half way through his sister's swim team practices. We used it for research, since no one really uses encyclopedias anymore. (I don't think my daughter fully understands why the boy detective is called Encyclopedia Brown.)
This weekend, I spent 5 days without my cell phone. No means to communicate with my team of U10 Softball players. Hoping we had enough to play our tournament game (we had 7). Fortunately, my husband had his phone. We used it to pull up the email I sent out 3 months ago with our league rules stating we only need 7 players to not forfeit the game.
I do not take my phone with me everywhere I go. It doesn't track my workouts (although it is in my back bag in case I get stranded), I leave it in the car during softball practice, and unless my son needs distraction to get through those last 30 minutes of practice it is not our television. Technology is available for so many things, but there is something it cannot do. It can not live our lives.
Tuesday, September 22, 2015
I am a Volunteer
My name is Brenda. I am a wife and a mother of 2, I work full time, I am a triathlete, and I volunteer.
You may look at my schedule and ask "Why volunteer? Why not let someone else do it who isn't as busy as you." That is the exact thing my Father-in-Law said just 2 years ago.
At the time, my house had been on fire Thursday morning, taking with it 80% of my clothes, my place to sleep, all of my food, the things I relied on to get through my day that were in my house, as well as my dog. Everything I could salvage to be washed in clothing (nothing spandex nor dry-clean), same for my family, I took with us to get by with as we stayed at my in-laws until we could be relocated to temporary housing. (We needed my mother-in-laws washer and dryer, or we would have stayed in a hotel.) The next night, I was a volunteer for my daughter's first Swim Meet.
Okay, so they fed me a really nice dinner. I didn't know that when I signed up. I didn't know that when I showed up either. On a Friday evening, I sat at the desk to make sure the clocks reset for each race. Not difficult. But I'm not done.
The next morning, when my daughter actually swam, I brought homemade blueberry muffins for the Coaches/Officials' Breakfast Table. (I did mention I lost all of my food in the fire, right?) I woke up at 3 am, had to run to a 24 hour grocery store for ingredients and used my Mother-in-law's only muffin tin (it made 8 at a time) to bake 24 muffins. This covered my entry to watch her race. (When my husband showed up with the last batch, it covered his entry as well.) As the meet progressed, they needed timers. I stepped up. I got to see my daughter race from the pool deck, instead of from the hot stands. But I also missed seeing her race too. That's okay. I was busy cheering for the kid in my lane.
I covered several shifts volunteering for this first meet. My Father-in-law told me I should let someone else do it, I have more important things to worry about. A house fire is very important. But so is taking care of my family. My husband, his son, told him "She volunteers because it opens up opportunities for her daughter." He didn't like it.
I am a mother of 2. I will also volunteer for my son's activities. I will again coach soccer, tee ball, what ever he needs me for so he and his teammates can play.
I work full time. After the birth of my son and our first house fire almost 5 years ago now, I had to go back to work. I don't have free time to do whatever I want, so I prioritize.
I am a triathlete. I don't get to train as much as I would like to, but I do train. And I race. I have signed my husband up to volunteer. He enjoys the free tee shirt and chance to see me on the course. My Daughter also races triathlons, and I volunteer for her races as well. Racing you see how much depends on volunteers. From the person holding out a cup of water to the lone person sitting in a chair pointing to keep you on course and cheering for me. Volunteers are needed. I thank them.
And I am a volunteer. I step up because others don't. Trust me, I never played soccer before, but I coached my daughters 3 year olds' team at the Y. I learned. And I will continue to step up when ever I see an opportunity to help. If you ever talk to someone running an event that depends on Volunteers, you will never be turned away. The greatest reward is knowing you make the event possible for someone else.
You may look at my schedule and ask "Why volunteer? Why not let someone else do it who isn't as busy as you." That is the exact thing my Father-in-Law said just 2 years ago.
At the time, my house had been on fire Thursday morning, taking with it 80% of my clothes, my place to sleep, all of my food, the things I relied on to get through my day that were in my house, as well as my dog. Everything I could salvage to be washed in clothing (nothing spandex nor dry-clean), same for my family, I took with us to get by with as we stayed at my in-laws until we could be relocated to temporary housing. (We needed my mother-in-laws washer and dryer, or we would have stayed in a hotel.) The next night, I was a volunteer for my daughter's first Swim Meet.
Okay, so they fed me a really nice dinner. I didn't know that when I signed up. I didn't know that when I showed up either. On a Friday evening, I sat at the desk to make sure the clocks reset for each race. Not difficult. But I'm not done.
The next morning, when my daughter actually swam, I brought homemade blueberry muffins for the Coaches/Officials' Breakfast Table. (I did mention I lost all of my food in the fire, right?) I woke up at 3 am, had to run to a 24 hour grocery store for ingredients and used my Mother-in-law's only muffin tin (it made 8 at a time) to bake 24 muffins. This covered my entry to watch her race. (When my husband showed up with the last batch, it covered his entry as well.) As the meet progressed, they needed timers. I stepped up. I got to see my daughter race from the pool deck, instead of from the hot stands. But I also missed seeing her race too. That's okay. I was busy cheering for the kid in my lane.
I covered several shifts volunteering for this first meet. My Father-in-law told me I should let someone else do it, I have more important things to worry about. A house fire is very important. But so is taking care of my family. My husband, his son, told him "She volunteers because it opens up opportunities for her daughter." He didn't like it.
I am a mother of 2. I will also volunteer for my son's activities. I will again coach soccer, tee ball, what ever he needs me for so he and his teammates can play.
I work full time. After the birth of my son and our first house fire almost 5 years ago now, I had to go back to work. I don't have free time to do whatever I want, so I prioritize.
I am a triathlete. I don't get to train as much as I would like to, but I do train. And I race. I have signed my husband up to volunteer. He enjoys the free tee shirt and chance to see me on the course. My Daughter also races triathlons, and I volunteer for her races as well. Racing you see how much depends on volunteers. From the person holding out a cup of water to the lone person sitting in a chair pointing to keep you on course and cheering for me. Volunteers are needed. I thank them.
And I am a volunteer. I step up because others don't. Trust me, I never played soccer before, but I coached my daughters 3 year olds' team at the Y. I learned. And I will continue to step up when ever I see an opportunity to help. If you ever talk to someone running an event that depends on Volunteers, you will never be turned away. The greatest reward is knowing you make the event possible for someone else.
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