Well, that was fun. I flew out to Idaho for a quick visit with my people. Mom had her eightieth birthday, so I made excuse and went. All the best things happened. Mom's party, visits with siblings and children, and walks with Mom and Dad.
Mom inspired me, again. I often think about this after I get home when I see how leaving for five short day grows cobwebs and tall grass.
My car was filthy inside and out. Mom's car was spic and span, inside and out. My porch was cluttered with the mop bucket and a stinky rag, shoes everywhere, tools willy-nilly, trash and sand. Mom's porch is tidy and the floor spotless.
The kitchen "has a smell", said Lisl. She was right, there were only a couple dirty dishes, but about three bouquets of dead flowers that nobody bothered to throw out, and general disorder. Nobody put the clean dishes away either. Mom's kitchen fairly squeaks and sparkles. Fresh garden bouquets everywhere.
Here, there was milk in the fridge, but little else of note. Non-descript bits of food in containers that needed cleaning out. No fresh, beautiful salads or carrot cake cupcakes. No decent veggies and jams. Mom's fridge is nicely ready for anything in five minutes.
I came home to the oddest looking garden ever and the lawn at several stages of regrowth. The garden isn't my fault, our weather hasn't been conducive. And I'll catch up on the mowing sometime. But Dad keeps Mom's lawn perfect at all times. In twenty years , we might figure out how to have a park like Mom's.
Most of all, Mom inspires me to enjoy life fully. Walk a mile every day, love your neighbors, and eat a light supper. She's old enough to know about these things so I'm listening up.
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