My Halloween cat collection is in storage. The calendar flipped to November. The time has come to finalize holiday plans. I have always been a planner. Make a plan and work the plan. Schedule and complete as many items on your to do list weeks before the event. My to-do list with plan ahead week by week and day by day strategies keeps needless stress away. I am calm and peaceful. I have had Parkinson’s 10 1/2 years. My symptoms are mainly slowness of movement and rigidity. Ten Sinemet tabs daily help to mask symptoms, But I do have some “off” times when the meds do not work as they should. Although the reasons I experience off or down times is unknown, stress is a factor. Happy events and sad events can both be stressful.
Three Weeks Before: Set the menu. Locate recipes. Consider dietary needs, special requests, and traditions. Be wary of eliminating a menu selection if it has been on the menu for 30 years! One year my sister and I decided we did not need mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, and noodles–all in the same meal. Well, you do if your brother Larry blurts out ‘Where’s the mashed potatoes?’ before the prayer. If you want to add a new item to the menu, test it now. Last year I added Watergate salad. Watch for special sales on turkey and hams. Our turkey was purchased in October. If you are having guests, decide what you want them to bring. Flowers, bottled drinks, or an appetizer may be helpful.
Two Weeks Before: Make a master shopping list of all items needed including drinks, napkins, flowers, and food. Check basic pantry items. It may be time to replace cloves from 2018. You may not remember that all the brown sugar was used last month.
Next, make a shorter list from the master list. Then go shopping for pantry and freezer items. Plan your shopping expedition when your meds should be working the best. Be sure to take your water bottle and meds with you. The wheelchair is in the trunk and only used if I have a down time when my meds no longer work. I am immobilized and are unable to walk until the next dose kicks in.
One Week Before: Finalize your shopping list and shop for the perishable items such as fruit, vegetables, herbs, dairy, and bakery.
Four Days Before: Decide on dishes and table linens. Press tablecloth and napkins or toss the linens in dryer with a damp cloth for 10 minutes. Polish silverware and wash crystal. Design and set the tablescape.
Three Days Before: Buy flowers. Complete center piece, guest favors, and decorations. Select serving dishes, stemware, utensils, and trivets. Place on table and label. These tasks are my favorite!
Two Days Before: Make two side dishes that can be frozen or kept in refrigerator. Do prep work such as dicing onions and celery. Select pans and baking dishes. Locate the electric knife and potato masher. Review menu recipes and collect ingredients on counter. For example, sweet potatoes, brown sugar, coconut go in the 3-quart corning ware dish. Clean as you go and put away ingredients as you go. Run the dish washer. Unload dish washer.
One Day Before; Make one side dish. Rest, retreat, and revitalize! Take your meds on time. Be sure the dish washer is empty. Go to bed early.
Day of Event: Set your pills up in daily pill box and place on kitchen counter. Set your phone timer for all the daily doses. Stop the task you are doing the minute the timer goes off and take your meds. This process is an absolute requirement. You do not want to stand in the middle of the kitchen staring at the pill container wondering if you just took your pills or not! But it happens allot when you are engrossed in an activity. If I set up box correctly, I can determine whether I have already taken the dose. Entertaining is both a fun stressor and a negative stressor. I may need to increase the Sinemet dose slightly to remain functional.
Enjoy the time in the kitchen. Enjoy your guests more! Make one or two easy appetizers. Monitor the turkey. Reheat side dishes. Assign simple tasks like putting ice in glasses, filling with drinks, and carrying food bowls to table. Ask for help in removing hot pans from oven. Run through menu right before sitting down. You do not want to forget the Watergate salad in refrigerator! Breathe! You did it!!
Blessings!
Linda
