There are two types of people in this world. There are those who make lists, and those who do not. I dwell in the fuzzy, grey area somewhere between. I scribble random lists on quarter sheets of paper. These are used papers from my home and work computer, which have writing on one side. I cut or tear them into fourths and use the plain side for notes or lists (trying to do my little part in the green campaign). I add items to the list, cross things off, squeeze things in the margins, sideways, when the paper is full. I "star" the really important things so I won’t miss them. Between writing the items on the list, I add doodles. Then, when I actually need the list, it is nowhere to be found! What therapist wouldn’t relish the opportunity to evaluate the holder of such a document. Come on, now, I know I’m not the only one with this disability. Surely a few of you are right here with me, navigating the murky waters between creating the list, and using the list.

My hubby is a die-hard list maker. He lists his Things To Do, his purchases, the mileage and gallons of gas at each car fill up. He has notebooks and pens in every room, even the bathroom! I really don't want to know what he lists in there! Don’t think he hasn’t tried to convert me to the joys of list-making. He is always telling me to “write it down, put it on a list.” Of course, he tells me this when we’re out on a walk, or while I’m driving 70 miles an hour during rush hour traffic on the expressway. “It,” however, usually does not end up on a list, because, as I tell him, I would actually have to have the list with me to write it down, then again to read it later. Of course, I would have to remember to look at the list occasionally. Which brings me back to the black hole between the creation and the use of the list issue. I think this whole list-keeping thing is highly over-rated!

I did start my Christmas shopping last year with a list. I wrote down everyone I was going to buy gifts for, and what I intended to buy for each person next to their name. I didn’t have any ideas for some people, so I left their gift area blank. I figured I could always write in their gift after I purchased it. I dutifully carried my list from store to store, crossing off items as they were purchased. “This list thing isn’t so hard,” I remember thinking, rather smugly. “Maybe hubby is on to something here.” I even wrote the store I purchased each gift at, so if I needed to return something I would have the information handy.

The trouble began when I found something for some of my giftees and decided I liked the items I found better than the ideas I had already written on the list for those people. Since the list had been written in pen, I had to cross off, then write in the new item next to these names. After four, five, and six stores, my list was showing signs of wear. It had been pulled out of and stuffed into my purse dozens of times, folded and unfolded, crossed off, written over, and used to blot my lipstick after lunch. My list was torn, worn, and smudged so that it was barely readable. Somewhere during my shopping trip, this list met the fate of so many lists before it. I believe it is still lurking in the crevices of my purse somewhere even now, probably with a piece of gum wadded up in it.

I have about as much luck with grocery lists. We start a list, and keep it on the counter top where we can add to it as we remember things we need from the supermarket. Sounds really good in theory. The thing is, when the counter starts getting cluttered with mail, other lists, phone numbers and reminders; well, it looks “messy.” So, I move the clutter, and the list that got swallowed up in it. Then we start another list, and hope that one doesn’t find it’s way into the mound of papers I shuttled off to a remote area to “go through later.” We did try keeping the grocery list tacked to the refrigerator, but found it difficult to write vertically, so we would take it down and add to it, but somehow it wouldn’t get back up on the fridge. Then it goes the way of the elusive counter top grocery list. When I finally “get around to” sorting those mounds of papers, I’ve found as many as five or six grocery lists. Of course, this is after I’d been back to the supermarket a few times for things that didn’t make it from the first list to the new list!

I think the Things To Do list, especially, can be a great help. Apparently my memory isn’t what it used to be. I'm reminded of this every time I go upstairs and look around frantically for clues as to why I went up there. For me, remembering to put something on the list is a stretch! So it seems like a To Do list would be good to have, what with my memory hiccups and all.

Hubby had written “Call about insurance quote” on his Things To Do List. I thought I would surprise him, and made some calls to insurance companies. Admittedly, I enjoyed crossing that item off his list. So I listed my own Things To Do, sneaking on a couple of things I had already done just for the pleasure to crossing them off. I even did some of the legitimate items.

Perhaps I will rethink this whole list making notion. After all, can all those list-makers be wrong? Do you realize there are internet groups for people who like to make lists? They actually read each others' lists and have entire forums about lists. Yes, really! And check out this (one of many) website for creating lists: http://tadalist.com/.

I've heard it said that what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, and I'm certainly up for that. Now, all I need is a list of my lists, and a list of where I keep those lists. I'll need some pretty colored pens, and maybe a notebook or two, and some more of my politically correct quarter sheets of paper. Perhaps I’ll look into getting an iPod Touch. They have a To-Do cards App for it now (http://iphoneapplicationlist.com/2009/07/23/todo-cards/).

Yes, I will definitely put that on my list to think about! Better yet, I’ll put it on hubby’s list. Who knows, it just might score me an iPod Touch for Christmas!