Some are better at it than others. I’m better in certain circumstances. I can wait until Christmas morning to open my presents. I can wait to learn a secret until someone is ready to share it. I’m more comfortable with uncertainty than some.

But waiting for a phone call, waiting for an email, waiting for Telecom Italia to let me know when they will install my DSL– this is driving me crazy.

I breathe. I try to relax and practice patience. Sometimes I take actions that I pretend might move things along. This afternoon I changed the label on my doorbell.

I used to smoke a cigarette to make the bus come faster (because I’d have to put it out). Did it work? No, but it passed the time.

Got a light?