Oct 12 2007
Turn the rugs over
I have known about my parents upcoming visit for a month. My Father didn’t attempt to surprise me by showing up at the door unannounced. I am picking them up at the airport on Saturday. A month ago, I wrote a list of things that I wanted to accomplish prior to my parents arrival. But after the mad rush of painting and unpacking the household goods shipment, I have fallen into a lazy brown mood. I am now a day and a half from their arrival and I realize my inate procrastination has once again caught up to me. There are people who love to clean and tidy their house and keep their yard looking well cared for. I once had a friend ask me, “Don’t you love getting a toothbrush and cleaning the refrigerator seal?” “No, I don’t”, I said. “I really don’t.” When Abby was younger, she saw her cousin vacuuming the floor and asked him why he was vacuuming. He said, “You vacuum the floor when it’s dirty.” Abby replied, “No you don’t, you vacuum the floor when company is coming.” Such is the good example I set. My brother Howie’s roomates in university were shocked when he was found cleaning the bathroom the night before my Mom was to arrive. They told him why bother, when she got there she would clean it for them. She didn’t reclean the bathroom, but she did clean the kitchen sink. I had planned to begin the final push of “prepare for parents arrival” this morning. I was outside the home improvement store ready to go in and buy a furnace filter, but I needed to get Zeke dressed. I have started the bad habit of picking Zeke up from his bed, still in his pajamas, and carrying him to the car to speed up the school drop off routine. I have always found it a bit strange when kids are wandering around stores in their pajamas, but feel it is acceptable for kids to travel in the car in their pajamas. Yet another of my obsurdly drawn lines. The Briens wear pajamas and dressing gowns (bathrobes) everywhere and it never ceases to make me laugh. Anyway, I had brought a change of clothes for Zeke, but realized I had forgotten his shoes. So, I just went back home. I still have one more day to accomplish my list. It is a bit of a tradition to be up until 2 in the morning cleaning the night before my parents arrive. So, I’ll either be very busy cleaning all day tomorrow or I’ll take my Aunt Cita’s more simple advice…”Company’s coming, turn the rugs over.”
Don’t forget the coffee pot
Thanks Juliet. I would have forgotten. However, this coffee pot is not very dirty. He only used it for a month. He bought a new coffee pot for the month he was home prior to our storage shipment arriving. If my Mom doesn’t want to use this coffee pot, she can use the one that boils internally and you press to pour one cup, or the one that dispenses two travel mugs worth of coffee. They are both in the basement with his coffee cups. It seems logical that with so many coffee cups, you need three coffee pots.
Hey mugs,
sounds like a lot of ‘taking responsibility for your actions’ while being very tired! I can picture Zeke in his pyjamas with no shoes on at the hardware store, but I am sure he really got his gear on…
We are watching what you guys are doing and praying for you.
Lots of love & God’s blessings
Martyn, Ros, Lucy, Alex & Sam
Mugs is just sad that she doesn’t get to pratice hospitality every Friday night anymore. She’s still working on that part about not grumbling. Or maybe she’s solved that part since i’m not there!
Margaret - Why are you fretting about your mother and the “Old Guy” ?
I spent two weeks with them in Minn and nobody jumped thru hoops. That’s all your mothers wants is COFFEE. As far as the Old guy is concerned, just prop him up somewhere and had him the TV remote. I probably should not talk this way about your father, after all, he is my husband’s favorite brother!!!!! Love to all of you and will stay tuned.
He’s also my favorite father-in-law.