#155 Don't Like Spring Cleaning

Getting Started
​
​Actually once I talk myself into cleaning, I don't mind. 

In fact, one summer When I was 16, I asked my parents if they would pay me to be "maid" once a week. I worked from 8 to 5, cleaning the entire house for our family of 6 for $15.00. I complained in my diary, but also noted... "I don't mind having a long period of time by myself.  There's no brainwork involved, so I have a lot of time to think."  I still sort of feel that way.

Cleaning Today
​
​It seems like I've spent more time in my house in the last 10 months, than I have in 10 years. It's given me time to become annoyed by the junk and to attempt to do something about it. Even back in chemo months, I plodded away at small projects.

But it's the bigger spaces that I've recently dug into.  The garage! Do we need 5 basket balls? It felt good to get started. I was reminded of days as a kid, when my dad would get on a cleaning streak and the whole family went to work in the garage or yard. Cleaning in a group, is a whole different thing. I miss that.

Did I Finish?
​

I've made progress, but the garage is not done.  That's  because I have things like bottle cap collections that need to be played with. (I wasted a lot of time!) I like to give myself an excuse for hoarding, since I used bottle caps with my Kindergarten class for math and science games. That was 35 years ago. 

Cleaning the Cabin
​

I plunged in for a totally different kind of cleaning at our cabin in the Texas Hill Country. We don't have clutter there... just cobwebs and dust. It's exhausting work with ladders and long tools. (I broke my mega tool!) I sort of like this kind of cleaning, with no big decisions. 

 
Closet Decisions
​

Back at home in Sugar Land, I faced my closet. I've dabbled at closet cleaning for months, but I suddenly realized I had been totally ignoring certain things. Scarves, hats, cancer related books and magazines. 

My hair is actually so crazy these days that I should be hiding under a scarf or hat, but I refuse to wear the things that remind me of my chemo days. So now I'm figuring out where to donate my cancer-themed stuff.

The Wig

​Funny how I stopped noticing the face staring at me in my closet. But, it was time to make a decision. Why not just donate the wig to someone who might put it to good use? What was holding me back?  I guess there is a tiny part of me that has to acknowledge the fact I could someday face this stuff all over again... But wouldn't I deserve a new wig for my trouble?

It's a weird thought to be confronted with, when you're busy cleaning. I didn't like the the pondering. It made me uncomfortable.

​So I closed the wig up inside its box and put it on a high shelf, out of view. I hoped to avoid the same bad luck that happens when you leave your umbrella at home... causing it to rain. 

Good-Bye Knee Brace
​
​I did however get rid of the 20-year-old, $1000.00 knee brace from my ACL surgery. Hopefully I'm not tempting fate.

Here's a mighty fine throwback photo of that brace... and my mom, washing bird poop out of my hair...on Mother's Day!  I miss Mom!