Winding Down – or is it UP?

After my son left yesterday I rested a while, basking in the afterglow of Christmas. My daughter was off with her friends and I relaxed and soaked every last bit of Christmas humor in. Then I got to work. The tree came down. The ornaments and decorations were lovingly packed away. Laundry got done. I took frequent breaks. When my daughter would grace me with her presence we played with her new Playstation. The dog got extra attention. I allowed the cats to live an extra day. All was still right with the world even if the apartment was a bit lopsided still from Christmas. I went to bed early and slept well.

This morning I got up when I felt like it. It was early because I am not a late sleeper, but it was leisurely. I set out on my day’s errands – to return one present and pick up my gift from my father. The return lines were short (another miracle?) and the clerk only a little obtuse. Things were looking good! Now for my treat – a new vacuum cleaner. Oh yes! The one I have been using left much to be desired as a vacuum cleaner. It makes a great obstacle and a wonderful deadweight, but really doesn’t vacuum or clean. I have my best success with it when I take a broom, sweep the carpet and then pour the dirt into the vacuum bag. This process saves on electricity since it isn’t worth turning the power to “ON”. I suspect that the letters are reversed and it is really “NO”.

I got my new toy home and promptly put it together – one screwdriver and two screws – even the queen of the tool room klutzes can handle that. I dragged the bare, dry, brittle tree out onto the porch, merrily dropping needles as I went. I set about rearranging the furniture back to where it had been before I had moved it to accommodate the tree and presents and Christmas choo-choo train. I lit scented candles in every room and I vacuumed. I vacuumed the floors, the blinds, the baseboards, the corners, the furniture. I vacuumed under things and over things. I found crevices that I am sure have NEVER been vacuumed and did them up right. I dusted, vacuumed, rearranged chachkas, and inhaled the scent of fragrant candles. When I began to run out of things to vacuum, I spied the dog. She ran – and I haven’t seen her since. Did I mention that my dog is a bit on the cowardly side? She has absolutely no spirit of adventure.

I am not normally a domestic sort of person. My philosophy in the area of housekeeping is that if there is anything else to do, it should be done first. Even when there is nothing else to do, I do that before I clean. But today I became possessed by the allure and charm of the siren’s song of a self-propelled ‘whirlwind”. I guess it knew what it was doing. As I cleaned and arranged I began to reclaim myself again. I have been avoiding my living room completely. No, not because the dirt was piled hip high (although that may have been a small factor) but because it didn’t feel like it was ‘mine’. I had surrendered it to my daughter’s untidiness and to Bear. I have been hiding in my bedroom, but even that wasn’t entirely mine because Bear was in there, too. Today I put things back where I want them. They are, after all, my things. My daughter’s mess was banished to her room.

Does any of this make sense to anyone besides me? Perhaps it’s an affliction or a delusion….but I feel great. Tomorrow I go back to work feeling rested and happy. I am looking forward to it. Late Thursday afternoon, before we left for the Christmas holiday, some changes in the business structure were made which are going to allow me to make my job more my own as well. Even the traffic on Georgia 400 isn’t going to get to me tomorrow!

And next week…..next week I am going to buy a carpet shampooer and banish all remnants of the dog’s “oopsies” from my carpet. Is this what they mean by “get a life?