Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Light Housekeeping

https://guideimg.alibaba.com/images/shop/105/02/11/9/sexy-french-maid-costume-accessory-pink-feather-duster_41329.jpgFunny thing, I told Herk.  Housekeeping, I mean.      

How so?

When I was a kid, I could seldom get it good enough to please Mama; lot of chores done twice.

Herkimer chuckled.

But I got pretty good at it, and now I am thinking, I said, how much things change.

Herkimer, quizzically, Really?

Yeah, I explained, for years meeting Mama's standard in my own home was the goal.  You know, perfection.  But as I got older, things changed.  Now I am at a point where "good enough" is good enough.  At the rate I am going, the day will come when "not at all" is good enough.

Herkie laughed.  I was just remembering, he remarked, the early times in my married life.

Do tell, I encouraged.

Well, he said, Tildy and I had been married maybe two, three weeks.  I remarked to her that the house looked like she needed to dust.

Dust? she asked, in all seriousness.  What's "dust"?

 From Bob Warr and Picket Fences
with Bob's permission.

4 comments:

Grace said...

Why do I remember this with a different punch line?

vanilla said...

Grace, I have used the story in one form or another for more than thirty years, but the punchline has always been the same because it is based on a true family incident.

Vee said...

I used to strive for Mom's standard and never left on vacation without a spotless house - or at least as spotless as I could achieve. It took me a few years to figure out how to walk out and lock the door without leaving a neat house behind.

vanilla said...

Vee, priorities change as we mature.