Something major happened to me over the weekend. I had my house cleaned by professionals. Three lovely women who don't speak a word of English came into my house and changed my world. And I'm planning on inviting them back to do it again in the next few weeks. They cleaned everything and then some. And they made a hotel fold on the toilet paper and a rosette in the Kleenex box. How did I ever live without? We couldn't find the cat for a long stretch of time after they left. She eventually re-appeared after we shook a bag of treaties. And she spent a long period of time after they left walking around the house sniffing stuff -- as if nothing smelled right any more. I didn't know what to do with myself while they were there. I just sat there while they cleaned everything including the windows and the ceiling! I felt so guilty. And my guilt was compounded by the fact that I had just read The Help by Kathryn Stockett. If you haven't read it, you should read it soon because it's going to be turned into a movie. It's set in the 1960s in Jackson, Mississippi and focuses on the relationships between middle class white families and the black women that are their help. I wish I didn't need help cleaning. But I really, really, really don't like to do it. I work so many hours out of the house, and I know I should be able to clean when I get home with as much gusto -- but I can't. I have no interest. I make half-assed attempts to clean things and then I give up. Yes, I can cook up a storm and I will attempt any recipe you give me -- but I can't seem to muster up the same passion for cleaning. I'm a good picker-upper. I operate under Betty's Rule #1: Keep your front room picked up because you never know who's going to drop by. But the rest of the house can turn into rack and ruin -- and I'm not likely to do a whole lot to stop it. I don't live in filth -- I can hide my cleaning deficiencies pretty well -- but still...when you drop by my house, you'll find that the level of cleanliness is not museum-quality. Except for right now. Right now, it's glistening and clean. And I love it. I love the smell of cleaning products in the air. It's better than cinnamon and lavender. Here's my tip for the day...have your house cleaned.
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