nemesis (nem-i'-ses)>n., pl. -ses (-sez') 1. A source of downfall or ruin. 2. An implacable or unbeatable foe. 3. One that inflicts just retribution; avenger. 4. Nemesis Gk. Myth. The goddess of retributive justice or vengenance.
Time. The implacable, unbeatable foe that is, more often than not, my source of downfall and ruin.
From the moment I awake each day, it pursues me like a demon, nudging me while I drink my morning coffee, gaining on me as I finish my morning pages, and in flat out pursuit by the time I shower and dress for work.
For the next six or seven hours, I attempt to outwit it by doing several things at once - making phone calls while I'm driving (dangerous, I know, but after all, I'm at war here!), editing while eating lunch,working on my novel at the mall while my mother does her shopping. Still that evil enemy nips at my heels.
I haven't quite figured out why she's so hell bent on destroying me. I've never tried to cheat her by lying about my age, having plastic surgery, or dating younger men. I've never recklessly wasted her by sleeping until noon, or spending hours in front of the tv eating bonbons. And until recently, I seemed to be able to manage my time quite well - actually, used to have my days quite well controlled. Now it seems, time has taken control of me, and I'm constantly trying to outrun the clock.
Maybe that's the goal - this nemesis time intends to make me surrender control of my life to the whims of the clock, to sacrifice doing the things I love in order to complete the ever increasing number of necessary tasks that fall to me each day.
No, I say! I refuse! I will take this demon time by the throat and make it work for me once more! If it means rising at the crack of dawn and staying awake until midnight, I will not have hours stolen from me!
There. I feel better. But, egad, I have to run! It's nearly 5:00 and I haven't started dinner yet, there's still 1000 words left to write on my novel, I need to get a head start on work for next week, and I really should do some laundry. As usual, I'm running out of time...