The cleaning lady

Today I am experiencing something new for me; I am having a cleaning lady come to clean my house before company arrives this afternoon. Except for some voluntary help from daughters, daughters-in-law and granddaughter-in-law I have done all my own housework since we returned to Vernon County in 1989. But with my middle age plus years adding a few more pluses lately and with trips for Lester's treatments, etc., things had gotten out of hand here at home.

When you live in the midst of disarray you sometimes don't notice what has happened. But last week I went to a meeting in a woman's home. I had not been in her home before and the first thing I noticed was how CLEAN everything looked. When I came home the first thing I noticed was how UNCLEAN everything looked. I fretted for a couple of days doing some piddling clean-ups here and there. But when I heard that some favorite relatives were coming from another state to help out for a few days I realized that if I wanted to enjoy their visit I had to do something about the house. With the help of a trusted friend I found a nice lady who miraculously was available today.

When I reminded Lester this morning that she would be here soon he asked me if I was sure I had gotten the house clean enough for her to come to clean. I'll admit I had done quite a bit of digging out and putting away after I found that I would be having help. In a small town you don't want everyone to know what is in your corners and under your beds. (I'm sure this lady would never share my dirty secrets, but I didn't want her to see them herself.)

When I was a child in Washington, D.C., my mother had finally agreed to hire a cleaning lady who came every two weeks to help clean this three-story home of our family when all eight of us kids were still living at home. Mama didn't really want to do this but my father and the older sisters insisted she needed the help. I can remember her fussing at us the night before the lady was due to be sure and get everything picked up and our beds made before we left for school. This lady lived clear across the city and came to our house on a city bus. I'm sure she didn't ever see any of our friends between the days she came to us, but Mama was just as concerned about her opinion of us as I am today with the nice lady who is now cleaning my bathtub.

Years ago when I was working full time and had all four children still at home we hired an older lady in our church where Lester was the minister. She had asked for the work when her long-time position with another church family ended. We did it partially to help her out, but it was a great help to me. She not only knew exactly what to do, she saw other things that she could do to help. One day she noticed a note I had left for my son to start something/anything for supper because I was going to be late. She called my office and asked if we liked beans and cornbread. Of course we did and they were ready when I got home. How great a treat that was! She liked us both very much and was partial to our youngest, Susan, who would come home from school and talk to her as she worked. She had a stroke the day after she had worked for us enough quarter years to qualify her for Social Security. We missed her terribly, though she did survive the stroke she was no longer able to work.

In another town, with another church family, we did hire the daughter of a church member who was commuting to college and needed some extra money. That was fun too because she loved our kitten and would leave little illustrated notes telling us about Bess's antics. I was always eager to see what she would mention. And she did an excellent cleaning job also.

That was our last experience with "outside help" until this morning. As I watch her work I am beginning to think that I should come clean and admit that I am now old enough to need some help.