The Sonikcycle Syndicate

I just had a couple of those drop-everything-and-attend-to-a-forgotten-deadline days—the kind of days that drive the Type A, uber-organizers absolutely buggy, and makes those who sweat bureaucratic bullets most anxious like. The short end of a not-so-long story is that the day before my Application for Graduation was due, I noticed that I didn’t have enough dissertation credits to graduate! Last Spring, when I thought I had registered for 12 credit hours, I had in fact only signed up for 1. Since my Application packet included a transcript that shows I have fulfilled the coursework/credit requirements, something had to be done, namely drop everything, scurry about, fill out forms, track down professors, interrupt them for signatures, sign up for more credits, and then work the system and its caretakers.

I almost want to say that I live for such days, but I don’t, really. However, there is something about the thrill of making a “deadline” after successfully navigating unforeseen obstacles that suddenly emerge. It’s not like I set these situations up intentionally, but this happens frequently enough in my life that I’ve come to appreciate the game-like tenor of such activity. I think it might have something to do with the amount of focus required… There is something uniquely satisfying when everything but a single series of tasks falls away leaving nothing but a pure sense of primitive purpose.

I also think such activity somehow reaffirms my laid-back, loosey-goosey style—there’s a time and place for everything… if it needs to get done, then done it shall be!