On mopping in the nude:
The other day i joked to a friend, whilst discussing the drinking of wine and how long it had been since i had done so, that i basically live the life of a middle aged housewife. (Telling this tale to a male friend a few days later, i added that i had the body of a middle aged housewife too. He was wise enough to act shocked and disagreeing.) Since that time, however, i have come to realize that, in some ways, this is true.
Take yesterday for instance. i awoke before seven, throwing on clothes and going to work out with my girlfriends before the rest of the house awakens. (A very middle aged housewife thing to do.) This time is such a blessing! It allows me to relieve some stress and feel good about myself, without worrying about where mom is, if the dog has been out, etc. (Thank God for all!!!!!!!!!) When i returned, as is my wont, i did my devotions. Thus, by the time mom is up, two of my largest commitments for the day have been taken care of, and distractions shan't keep them from being done. i then returned to sleep until almost noon. (Bad housewife, bad.) We went for lunch, i came home, mowed the lawn (discovered, i believe, wild strawberries!!!!!), chatted a bit with a friend (weeded the garden while doing so, because, you know, time on the phone is free time for work), and hung up mom's flags.
The flags were an interesting thing. (Aside from the fact that i had a chair completely collapse out from under me, sprawling full length sideways on the porch and, by the grace of God, not being hurt.) It occurred to me that i do so much to make mom happy, things she loves, when really, it is probably for my own good perhaps more than for hers. She loved those flags. Much of my childhood memories revolves around flags, hanging them, admiring them, etc., as well as the other lawn decorations. She probably doesn't even miss them most of the time. i think, however, that by hanging them, i am trying to hold onto her. By frantically pursuing the things that used to be key parts of her personality, i can force her to stay the same. She is not disappearing into dementia. She is still the woman who loves plants, and flags, and baseball. This notwithstanding, the flags did still make her happy. It is my hope that she will never truly lose the woman who was there. So perhaps my efforts aren't only selfish, they keep her there as well.
We're in the midst of a fight now, as i try to force her to do something i know she will want to do later. It is tiring, but so worth it when you see her smile. The other day we went to the fourth of July parade in the town where she used to instruct first grade. She was so happy, even an outside observer who knew her commented to me on what a good time she seemed to be having, when i later ran into him professionally. Tonight, i imagine, will be the same thing. Once at the church softball game she will be happy she went. It is just such a struggle sometimes to make her go.
Back, however, to my housewife life. After hanging flags i decided to shower before my meeting. This required emptying the bathtub into the toilet (currently the only thing in the bathroom that drains properly). Before getting into the shower, since the floor was all wet (it is difficult to do this task neatly and quickly), i decided to mop. Since the shower had water in it for so long, it smelled. As it was empty, i decided to clean it. So i sprayed floor cleaner (method all natural all floor one, i love it and highly recommend it) on the floor, mopped, and scrubbed out the tub and shower. This made me feel delightfully eccentric. Perhaps i am a housewife, the sort who figures that as long as the floor is wet, it might as well be cleaned. i am, however, a hippie eccentric housewife, and that is how i like it. Don't write me off as middle-aged June Cleaver material yet.
i went to work, another borough meeting, and came home to walk the dog with our friends. Then chores, hanging out with bubs, meds for mum (and half awake placebo dispension as well), and sleep.
Did i mention that being a middle aged housewife isn't really all that bad?????
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