STRETCHED EXPECTATIONS
When I taught an economics course in senior high school one of the concepts debated was managing your expectations. The proposition was the key to a good quality of life is limiting your expectations.The affirmative side defined “limiting” as expectations that were achievable without undue stress on family or personal life. While a small degree to stretching is good for growth and development, too much could cause major trouble––an elastic band that breaks when over stretched. The problem is when is one’s reach too great for one’s grasp. A reaching-measuring stick might be when one sacrifices something of greater value than the strived for goal. The problem is who takes the time to do those evaluations. I say “those” because the evaluations should be made on an ongoing basis. Unexpected obstacles can arise and increase stress and thus lower quality of life.
Committing to a goal is not usually subject to conditions.You commit or you don’t. Also, after a major amount of time, energy and /or money has been spent, dropping the desired goal becomes much more difficult. Then expectations are easily overstretched. Tensions rise. Arguments, fights, marriage breakups or quitting of a job happens. There goes a good quality of life.
In my novel, Baggage burdens. expectations stretch in the married life of Jill and Joseph. When do expectations become too great? What early stress signs are there that suggest that the couple should evaluate continuing to pursue their dreams? I say “should” because the couple didn’t do evaluations. Tensions did rise.
I would suspect that most people would not catch those early warning signs. I suspect that will be true of the readers of the novel too. With this heads-up, will you catch any of those signs that the writer planted?
Once Thomas sees his children are busy playing, he announces his good news. He’s landed a bathroom renovation job in Camrose. The work involves moving old main-floor bathroom fixtures to a new basement suite. He asks Joseph if he would be willing to help.
Joseph hesitates. He still has to finish Jill’s new dresser so it will be ready by Valentine’s Day, and there’s the extra two chairs. Even if he had no work, he’d prefer curling up on the loveseat before the fireplace in the evening with Jill.
Jill whispers that she sees they can use the extra money to buy new dinnerware. Joseph’s everyday dishes were scavenged from three different sets. She tells him she’s reluctant to serve company with their present dinnerware.
Seeing the hopeful look in both Thomas and Jill’s eyes convinces Joseph to accept. It’s possible to work in Camrose all day and at Thomas’s at night.
After two weeks of working on the renovation project, Thomas tells Joseph he has another contract. He asks Joseph to work on it too. Joseph chooses not to tell Jill. While Jill doesn’t complain that he often returns home after she has gone to bed, Joseph misses being with her.
Joseph waits while Jill brings her laptop. Her presentation begins with the thrills she knows will excite the children. Hoping they’ll stay a whole week in Anaheim, she shows other highlights—Universal Studios, the Pirate Dinner, the Medieval Times Dinner, the San Diego Zoo, and Safari Park and Sea World in San Diego. She eyes Joseph, trying to gauge his reaction. Without a word, she slides the screen in front of him and studies his reaction.
“I suppose after Christmas they can put together some kind of scrapbook of their research so they can have the same thrill you had. It would be a great way of extending their excitement.”
“You mean we can go!” Jill had prepared a list of several reasons why he should agree, at least for going to Disneyland.
“It is expensive, but I think I could save up enough money for the trip. If I’m short, I might have to take a few extra jobs in the winter, but I should be able to do it.”
“That’s wonderful!”
“Of course, that’ll mean I won’t be home a few more evenings.”
“I can make a PowerPoint presentation for the kids or maybe burn the highlights of the trip on a DVD.” Jill’s excitement prevents her from catching Joseph’s last words.
“You don’t mind?”
“Don’t mind what?”
“Me working more evenings?”
“Oh no. We’ll have a wonderful holiday.”
A frown momentarily crosses Joseph’s face. He turns around and goes to the cupboard for a glass of water.
She can’t see his disappointment. He takes his time drinking his glass of water.
Disney memories captured on Jill’s camera magically appear and lazily float to the ground like large paper snowflakes.
Sarah sits on Minnie’s knee. Amber plants a kiss on Mickey’s cheek. Matt sneaks behind Pluto and pulls his tail. Jill freezes the moment where Sarah and Amber dash up the Space Mountain Fast Pass lane.
They’re more excited about their fourth ride than the first.
Matt and Joseph pose wearing Mickey Mouse T-shirts. Amber, Sarah, and Jill do the same modeling Mini Mouse tops and ears. When Matt and Joseph show off their sweatshirt, Joseph fails to smile. His “we need to watch our spending” has no effect. Jill silenced his objection by reminding him that he can earn a little extra spending money by accepting Bill’s request to build his basement bathroom.
haiku capsule:
Managing my dreams
Do I gain more than I lose?
Trait of a good life
Nextblog: An Inspiration
Order the e-book from kindle or kobo now or your soft cover from Amazon.
Manage dreams–– do you? When? How?
I’d love to use it on my new website that’s being developed.
All comments will be entered for a draw on the Baggage burdens.companion novel.
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