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Very. Almost.

 

The response to her husband surprised me.   He had called from the downstairs great room where we were sitting to his wife who was upstairs in their bedroom.

“We’re supposed to be there in 15 minutes.  Think we’ll make it?”“I’m very almost ready,” she called back.

He chuckled. So did I.

It was an answer I immediately committed to memory. I loved the wording.   Much better than what’s been said so often that no spouse believes it —  “Just a few minutes more.” A vast improvement over the honest, but negative,  “Not quite.”

Filled with hope. 

I have begun to use this combination of of words in a variety of situations. Sometimes to describe actual progress.  Other times to describe feelings.

I’m very almost finished writing my book.
I’m very almost finished with Christmas shopping.

Or I’m very almost in love with you.”  (That might not have been what my future husband wanted to hear when our dating became serious.)

Now I’m wanting to say, I’m very almost done with all the political talk on television, requests to write to my congressman, or (most often) send a contribution.  Very almost.

I believe it’s still important to stay tuned in, to become/remain informed.But am I willing to do more than that?

copyright 2012 Pat Schudy

 

 

To be out front or take a stand with others? To weather a storm of possible personal reactions?

Those who study such things say that oldest daughters are leaders, influencers.  In our families and often beyond.

I’m very almost ready to decide what, if anything, the oldest-daughter side of me will do.

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Patricia Schudy

Patricia Schudy is the author of the non-fiction book, "Oldest Daughters: What to know if you are one or have ever been bossed around by one," and is currently writing a suspense-romance novel. She is a former nationally syndicated, youth-advice columnist ("Talk to Us," Universal Press Syndicate/Andrews McMeel) and a free-lance feature writer for local and national publications, ncluding Better Homes and Gardens /Meredith Publications, the Kansas City STAR Magazine and the National Catholic Reporter. She is a member of Sisters in Crime (SINC), Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, and Northern Colorado Writers. The oldest child in her family-of-origin’s five siblings, she is the mother of five adult children and the grandmother of eight. “Relationships are integral to who I am and what I choose to write about.”

This Post Has 2 Comments

  1. Jack Hunthausen 6 Feb 2017

    I’m very almost filled with joy at reading your blog!

  2. Nora Ellen Richard 5 Feb 2017

    Thanks to friends who are more than almost ready, I have become an activist who is committed to at least one action each day. We check in with one another often enough so our good intentions don’t wane. One day I might send emails to my legislators, another I may spend time in prayer for our government or send fellow activists encouragement . I take time to read so I know what I need to attend to. And, I am almost ready to weather the storms of personal unfavorable reactions from those I love who disagree with many of my concerns. I hate getting wet but sometimes a dunking is a small price to pay for a commitment to action.

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