In the months since my husband’s death, our home has been pretty much a wreck. Neither the dining room nor kitchen tables were usable for their designated purpose, i.e., meals. Instead, I turned them into gross warehouses of paperwork, files, bills, and all manner of problems that needed solving. The living room was presentable. Isn’t that one of the laws of life?

My dear mother, a brilliant woman who could solve nearly any crisis, passed on to me one bit of infallible wisdom. If you want your house to be clean, invite people to visit. Well, bless me, it never fails.

As of this morning, my kitchen is immaculate, as is my dining room and living room. There is nary a file in view, as they now reside in our home office. That room now is off-limits to all who value their lives. You can barely turn around safely there. Files, my bicycle, correspondence, books that do not yet have a shelf, even some art supplies are hiding out there. For the sheer giddy hell of it, I even wound and set the clock in the living room. It now nicely chimes the hour and half-hour.

Then, I rearranged the kitchen furniture and rubbed lemon oil over the chairs and table until they looked presentable. I had no idea that our kitchen could look pristine. Well, perhaps once upon a time. I still have a few tasks to complete this morning, but I will finish them in short order.

I pray for safe travel to my four house guests: two brilliant adults who blessed me by making me a Nana twice over. My husband and I enjoyed our visit with three of them in the spring of 2019.  Now, for the first time, I will get to hold our youngest grandchild. I am ecstatic.