To-do lists

Do you use "to do list"? Is it useful? For me it isn't for some reason. I guess it's because I even forget to make the list.

Since I was little, I have been forgetful. I think I forgot to bring things to be brought to school more often than most of others at elementary school. I think I got better in college, but still. When I plan to bring something on a certain day and something else, more or less urgent, comes up later, I forget about the former.

Today, I was going to bring a souvenir from Japan for my friend as I came back to Jacksonville. Before getting on freeway, I had to make a stop at Jefferson County courthouse to renew my car tag.

My original plan was to do this on Wednesday after I picked up my textbooks at the post office. But, I didn't get to pick them up until Thursday afternoon because the redelibery that I scheduled on Wednesday instead of pickup didn't happen. I had been checking the package tracking all day but nothing changed and I had no idea where my books were. So I wasted Wednesday.

On Thursday, still not sure what's the status. If the package is out for redelibery and I went out to pick up, I would miss it again. USPS had not screwed me up yet and I got confirmation email, so it was hard to think that they would miss my request. I waited till three o'clock, and then I decided to go. Then, soon after I got on the road, USPS truck pulled into the apartment property. I thought it might have my stuff, so I turned around and waited for one more hour. Nothing happened, and finally I went to the post office. Fortunately or unfortunately, they still had my stuff.

When I picked it up, it was already 4:40 p.m. I could not make it to the courthouse by the end of office hour, so I decided to go early in this morning.

So, here it is. More urgent thing came up. My priority changed. First, I had to get textbooks, or I could not study. Second, I had to register my car this month. And I reserved a personalized tag for a week, so I had to finish registration by Tuesday, but I won't be back until Tuesday night. I had to do it before I headed back to Jacksonville. As soon as the first one came up, I no longer remembered about the souvenir.

Even if I make a to-do list, I even forget to check it. What's the point of making such a list then?

Sometimes I regret so much that I decide to start making the lists. But once I go without trouble for a while, I stop doing it.

I have been looking forward to the chance to give this souvenir to this friend for a couple of weeks.Then, the chance is here, and when it's here, I notice the gift is all the way back in my room in Birmingham... It's so depressing. I cannot make this trip to Jacksonville so frequently anymore. It's a long drive and costly.

It's a four-day weekend, and of course I don't want to drive back to Birmingham just to bring  this thing back. I'm not sure when I get to be back next time. And if it's a while later, I may forget again.

I guess I was born this way and have to live with it. But what should I do?