ROGERS — The phone rang. It was about 7 a.m. I should have been up, but Sunday was busy and enjoyable so I sat up late reading, not thinking about Monday.

My daughter, Stephanie, called from Ohio to see how my weekend had gone and to tell me about hers. While she filled me in on her activities, I made coffee and - thanks to a portable phone with a mute button - brushed my teeth before switching to the wall phone in the kitchen with its speaker.

With now free hands, I put away last night’s dishes, which were still in the drainer from the dinner I’d prepared for the family members who live nearby.

As we discussed a book we had both read, I fed the cat.

At that point, I switched back to the portable phone; I made the bed and stepped to the front door for the morning papers. I poured my first cup of coffee, added creamer and sat down at the cluttered dining table to sip fresh coffee while we continued our conversation.

Sunday newspapers were piled on the table where I put them last evening to read after the house was quiet, though I only scanned the headlines. I pitched them in the recycling basket while we talked about health reform and the latest political squabbles.

Steph mentioned her work plans for the day, which reminded me that I planned to organize the shed and put away the deck furniture. I picked up my pen and began a to-do list, smiling as she told about the Student

MARTHA HOGAN ESTES

Council weekend Hailey, my youngest granddaughter and honor-student, had attended.

“What a kid!” I said, wondering how this little genius came from my DNA.

“How’s she doing since you moved?”

“She’s doing really well.

I’m so proud of her,” she said. “Well, I’d better get to my desk; I’ve got a conference call at eight.” Her sweet lilting voice brought our call to an end with “I love you, Mom.”

Minutes later the phone rang again.

“What you doin’, sweet lady?” my friend, Al, asked, sounding chipper and much younger than his seventy years.

“Well, I talked to Steph, but you know me, I was sort of multi-tasking. I made a to-do list, but I think I’m too tired to start it.”

Martha Hogan Estes was born in Vernon County, Mo., but came to northwest Arkansas in the early 1940s. She attended public schools in Washington and Benton counties and raised a family there after short residencies in Tulsa, St. Louis and Memphis. She holds a BA in English from the University of Arkansas and is retired from the Rogers offices of Georgia-Pacific. She is a member and co-facilitator of LifeWriters.

Opinion, Pages 4 on 10/21/2009

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