Today was the day that I was going to have at home, to myself, and I was GOING TO CLEAN GERTRUDE’S ROOM. I have been trying to do that for a long, long time. I get in there, stir about a bit, feel really, really sad, and then go and do something else. Like hang a picture, or do a load of laundry, or balance my checkbook. Just “busy” stuff to put off the really important stuff.
Yesterday, I looked at this day and said, “Aha! Finally a day to clean the room, and nothing shall distract me.” Famous last words.
Along about Midnight last night, I became aware that there was much distressing noise coming over the monitor from the downstairs bedroom. And so I paid attention, and realized that the noise was coughing and coughing and coughing. It sounded deep. Blind Linda does coughing for behavior reasons, but this didn’t sound like behavior. It sounded like bronchitis. I administered Robitussin DM as per Standing Medical Orders, and thought dismal thoughts about MY DAY.
So, on this day, I didn’t get the room cleaned. I kept Blind Linda home from Center. I canceled the transportation. I faxed the doctor’s office who called back to say that I needed to have her there at 10:30. Everything takes longer when I need to transport Linda, black book, purse and important papers, but I got her there in the nick of time, and yepper, she does have bronchitis.
One of the indications that Linda is sick is that she is irritable and rude. She is both of these in some proportions most of the time, but it is even worse when she is sick. So patience was needed in great quantities while the doctor’s office and the pharmacy was navigated. Lunch was obtained at the place of the Golden Arches, and then it was home to get started on the notorious room. Except that Certain Man came home at that point and there was lunch to make. And after that, finally, it was time to get on the ROOM. Certain Man’s Wife found many interesting things that she forgot she had. She found things that needed to be thrown away or given to Salvation Army. She found dust and cobwebs in unbelievable quantities. And just when things were going good, Youngest Daughter called.
“Um, Mom,” she said cheerfully, “I just thought I tell you we are on our way home.”
“That’s nice, honey,” said Certain Man’s Wife. “Did you have a good day?”
“Yeah, pretty good. I’m pretty hungry.”
“That’s fine. There’s stuff here to eat.”
“Yeah, well, I just thought I’d tell you we’re on our way home, and we are all pretty hungry, I think.”
We. All. Wait a minute. What was this? We. All. What was this day, anyhow? Oh, right. That inconvenient, most troublesome Science Fair Project. Youngest Daughter was bringing her two partners home tonight to work on that. Certain Man’s Wife needed to rethink the outcome of this day. There would be some work done on that room, but the end of all things was not yet at hand. More important things were needing attending to. Like pizza in the oven, and tables cleared off to facilitate some experiments. And conversation to be had with three delightful freshman girlies.
And a weblog needed updating. So. Some of the above is now completed and it is:
BACK TO THAT NOTORIOUS ROOM. UGH!!! 
Filed under Uncategorized
Delaware Grammy 
I am also of the Race That Can Make Lots of Work to Put Off Doing the Inevitable…..
Don’t get to discouraged. You want me to go through stuff for you? Prolly not.~Christina
This is the way the things I really need to do happen. Too much else comes up or can be MADE to come up – as an avoidance tactic …. sigh! Like right now, for instance … I NEED to be doing taxes! But SO MUCH else also NEEDS done. Of course, THIS isn’t one of them, but it’s good, too, right???
I think I could learn a lot about priorities from you.
LOL on the poetry on my site! What a hound indeed! I don’t really mind if he lives somewhere else I guess as long as he’s okay, well-treated, and a happy pooch! It was obvious that wherever he’s been he’s been allowed inside. He kept wanting to come in here. Yesterday was cold and windy, maybe he decided to go back where it was comfy! I don’t mind my husband being gone for a little bit either–I do want him to come back though, even if he is okay, well-treated and happy when he’s gone. =D He enjoys hanging out with the guys. I slept all night and if anything went “bump” I didn’t hear it! =D
Not Linda irritable and rude?!?! LOL. Guess somethings never change. Glad you’re getting that dreaded job off your list. That’ll be a relief in and of itself, you know. Thank you seems so not enough to say about you making soup again. We are most grateful. “Thank you” for lack of a better phrase. Love you … as always.
Poor girl, I know I would feel like being rude and irritable too. And poor you, for having the bad end of the stick in having to deal with it.
I didn’t get as much thrown out or ready for Sallyann’s as I wanted too, with the children helping me clean the toyroom, but that can come later.
Simply print off copies of your web site and compile into another book! There! It’d be done! You have such a way with words, it is a treat to read your writings! I probably win the Blue Ribbon for putting things off. It is so difficult for me to stay with “book work”,I find myself putting off doing it and then in the slim chance I do actually set myself down I find I need a certain pencil or another cup of coffee etc….Wasn’t there a movie called “The Tax Man Cometh”? Was that nonfiction? Did it end happily? I sure hope so.
Just forget the room ! ha ha. I can relate to the phone calls of ” could you make dinner for us?” and “us” meaning ever so many things. We would miss so much if we didn’t remain flexxxxxxxxxxxable.
I am a believer that things unfold in divine order. What we plan so often is not what is in the overall Grand Plan and by just saying, “Oh, Well.” and letting go of our plans and accept that there are other more important things for more important reasons we can let go of the frustrations. You were meant to be serving other needs that day.
I left a monkey bread update on my site. (I never know where to answer questions!) I will take pictures today!
I keep wanting to ask you how Lynn is doing?