Older Self (os): I think I figured it out…

Younger Self (ys): What’s that?

os: I don’t have as much time as I thought I had.

ys: Are you dying?

os: NO! That’s not what I meant. Well, I mean, to paraphrase, we’re all dying, but we don’t all live.

ys: uggg….

os: What I really meant to say was, I don’t have as much free time as I thought I had, or at least, the free time that I do have is being used very inefficiently.

ys: Meaning…?

os: Well, you know how we work. We take some time in the beginning to take care of stuff and get it out of the way so we can concentrate on the main task.

ys: Yes. I usually have the whole night to work, so I can putz around for a couple of hours after dinner (even during dinner), then tackle the task till I get too tired.

os: That doesn’t work anymore, at least not right now. That couple of hours I use to putz around is actually all the free time I have. Once I get it out of the way, when I am ready to hit the main task, it’s time to sleep, because I can’t stay up all night any longer.

ys: Why not?

os: Long story, that we can’t go into. Anyway, at best, I have two hours of free time. Sometimes it’s just one hour.

ys: Wow. Poor guy.

os: Shut up.

ys: Hey, don’t take it out on me.

os: Hmmmm….. okay, so, what can I do?

ys: Can’t you just dive right into the main task?

os: I guess that’s what I’ll have to do. It’s just that everything that I’ve put off till later is now getting in the way of doing that.

ys: Patience then. Make an action plan, with manageable steps, and follow it through.

os: Well, aren’t you insightful.

ys: You would have said the same thing. It was just my turn to speak.

os: Okay then. I realize I need to approach it differently.

ys: Yeah, slow it down. Plan it out. Write it down, and cross it off when complete.

os: Task list?

ys: Maybe.

os: Okay, let’s try that out.

ys: So… we’re shooting for 2020?

os: Shut up.

Older Self (os): Whew… didn’t think I was gone so long.

Younger Self (ys): Yeah, where were you? It’s been six days since we talked.

os: Sorry. Real life intruded. There was the weekend, and that gets taken by the kids. Then with all this weather, and everyone with a cold and/or fevers… well, all that cuts into the free time needed for this stuff.

ys: I see…. well, speaking as young You, I have plenty of time to do things. If I wanted to game all night, I could. If I wanted to draw all night, I could. If I wanted to party, I could.

os: Yes, I remember.

ys: Jealous?

os: Of course I am. But remember, I am a husband and a father now. Responsibilities change. Priorities change.

ys: So, going back to What If?

os: Okay.

ys: Do I become a husband and a father in the alternate version?

os: Not sure yet. You probably do, but do you ultimately get divorced? Do you have kids or not? Do they hate you? Do you join the Marines? So many possibilities.

ys: As long as I become rich and famous…

os: That does not mean you will be happy…

ys: Jeez… why don’t you just create a timeline where because you/I chose to pursue my art, we precipitated an alien invasion that subjugated mankind.

os: Hey, I haven’t ruled that out either.

ys: Oh, wait a minute. You’re still stalling, aren’t you?

os: Yeah. Like I said, real life intruded. Haven’t had time to even think about what to do with everything. Still trying to start to learn Manga Studio, and using a tablet with it. Still have to clean up the drawings, or at least that was the plan.

ys: Well, as long as you haven’t decided, as long as I end up rich and famous.

os: I’ll keep that in mind. See you later.

ys: Later.