More jobs than I can count

Last week I found a new job.  Well, it actually found me. After trying unsuccessfully to bow out of my tour of duty for the Church's Parish Council, (I was feeling overwhelmed with my library duties and other life events), I went to the latest meeting hoping to just skate along without any additional duties.  No such luck.  I was sitting there, half listening, and half daydreaming, and I heard my name mentioned. 

"Dixie, you'll do it, won't you? You work at the library, so  you could just type up your notes there while you're working." 

Do what?  What do they think I do at the library, anyway? 

"I'm sorry?  What did you want me to do?"

"Serve as Parish Council Secretary.  Since the last one left the Council, we're without a secretary.  Can you do this for us?"

"Oh, I don't know..."

"We'll help you if you can't attend a meeting or two.  All you need to do is write up the minutes and submit them within a week of each meeting."

My thoughts were suddenly racing and I know my blood pressure was flying high.  Another demand on my time. Now how will I ever get back to my novel?  Or paint?  On the other hand, how do you say "NO"  to God?

"Well, I suppose I could try.  But I might need some help some months. Especially in the summer..."

"Great!  Let the record state that Dixie Barnes will be the new Parish Council Secretary, and all the other officers will remain as is.."

I'm suddenly scrambling to write down who the officers are and trying to take notes of what is going on.  The first part of the meeting is a blur.  I'm jotting down notes on all the papers handed to me at the beginning of the meeting, as well as the papers I had received prior to the meeting.

I didn't even tell Dennis when I got home. I knew he'd chide me about taking on another responsibility.  I was so exhausted after working all day and then spending four hours in the meeting that I just went to bed.

About four days later, I finally got  a chance to sit down and try to write the minutes up from that meeting. I sent the Parish Secretary an email, asking her to help fill in a few blanks I had left, like the attendance names.  I hadn't counted or itemized all the people present, and there had been three women there that I wasn't sure of their identity.  Well, two of them I knew, but the other one..nope.

So, that was my initiation into the next job on my resume.  I'm looking for a notebook to start putting all the papers in, so I can back reference if needed at the next meeting.  And I'll have to make sure I am always off work at the library before the meetings start from now on. I was late coming to this meeting, and look where it got me?

Til next time...don't take any wooden nickels!