Spring Is In the Air

I like to vacuum, dust, and wash windows in our home. Nothing makes me happier than to walk into the house and smell Lemon Pledge and Windex. I don't think I could live without an air freshener in both bathrooms, and an extra one in the master bedroom. Having everything clean and bright simply makes me happy. Then I got older!

I find it difficult to maintain a 2,000 sq. ft. home. I used to move the couch to vacuum, not any more. I used to stand on a kitchen chair in order to dust the ceiling fan. Not any more. I used to scrub the bathtub with all the elbow grease I could muster. Not any more. Sometimes my heart beats so fast, I need to sit down and gather my wits. I may break out in a sweat after a marathon of morning housework. 

I need someone to clean my house when I'm not looking. A wonderful person who will not only wash the whites in hot water, but also fold them in a way that pleases me. I pray for a person that will see the cobwebs without having to put prescription bifocals on first. I wish for a 30-something person that can get the ring out of the bathtub and wash the horizontal blinds in the kitchen. Also, this person should know how to shake a rug, chase dust bunnies out of the house, flip the mattress over and get the pet stains off the main staircase.

I'm too tired to keep up with it all. At this point in my life I'd rather read People or file my nails while eating a bag of caramels. My house is neat and tidy. My husband loves that dirty dishes are never left in the sink and his socks are always in his top dresser drawer. The cat loves that she has fresh water and dry food every day, and the dog assumes that her bowl will be full and topped with a dog bone. It's all work and someone has to do it.

All I'm saying is this:

I'm 66 years old and slowing down some. I'm grateful that I remember how to run the washing machine, turn on the stove, and flush the toilet. My priorities are changing and someday soon I may just sit down with a good book and say (to no one in particular) I don't care about the dust, the pet hair, the fingerprints on the mirror.  But I know that won't last because a tidy home keeps my mood elevated -- and it remains a type of exercise for this Montana woman.