As I dug, right by the sidewalk, I greeted those walking past. Everyone seemed to want to say something. Guy who may have been homeless (not uncommon around here) asked me if I'd roto-tilled the rest.
"Nope, just me and my shovel."
"That's a lot of work."
"If I want a garden, I gotta dig."
Another woman, "What are you planting?"
"Nothing yet, just loosening the soil so I can plant." I know, too much information.
Another man asking about the leek, where I got it, would it work?
"I don't know, it's an experiment. We'll see."
Thought about this last year, getting someone to do some of the heavy lifting. Even fantasies of having a landscaper just come in and take care of it all. But there was no margin for that last year. And I came to realize, for all my aches, I also had all the pride. There was a guy last year who offered to dig for me, and I thanked him, but said, no - my work, my garden, my joy.
So many of the big jobs on the house, we've had to hire people. We don't have the skills, the tools, nor would it be safe or wise for us to try a lot of the work. Just the bit of painting on the porch took a ridiculous amount of time and nerves. Neither of us should be high up on ladders these days, we'd certainly needed the tree guys for getting rid of that overgrowth. It about wrecked D just dismantling the ceiling fans. No way we are touching plumbing.
The garden, hard as it is on my muscles and tendons, I can do. And it's so beautiful in bloom.
And I feel the same about the cleaning. For all that I don't like to, and have neglected so much, having someone in to do it for me feels like hiring a ringer to do my test. Before the house, I don't know if I ever really thought this way. The first thing I'd have done with a windfall fortune would have been to hire a cleaning service, for a start.
Maybe, it's because the stuff that is out, that gets dusty, is what we have collected over the years. Our story is there, and that is mine to care for. I love when D cleans, that's great, but anyone else? That seems weird, wrong. Be like having someone dress me or brush my teeth for me.
So, I treasure the job I can do, take it in, know my bit of earth.
8 comments:
i have painted houses, put up drywall on walls AND ceilings (not a fun job), mudded and sanded said drywall, mixed cement, ripped up floors, laid floors, ripped up tile, laid tile, polished concrete, installed windows and doors, helped mister monkey do electrical and plumbing work, dug, pulled nails, hammered nails, screwed things, unscrewed things, and i am fairly certain we could build a house with very little outside help. not that i want to. oh god, those days, i hope are done. now, i shall paint because i love it.
we started to get cleaning help when i went to school and mister got promoted. coming home to an unclean house made me miserable since it felt like the space i really needed for comfort wasn't providing it. i didn't have time to clean, and neither did he. this seemed like a reasonable option.
we now have a good friend who does a fantastic job, much better than i would have, and as she is unable to work (visa stuff), we look at it as a mutually beneficial arrangement. our house isn't dirty, it's just ridiculously dusty, and i find dust to be disheartening - there's ALWAYS more where that came from. i'd rather let someone else deal with it.
to each her own, i suppose.
For the first time I'm having to accept cleaning and gardening help because of imminent surgery. Sensible, but difficult! I feel just as you do about my things, my history.
But if I won the Lottery I'd have a driver!
digging is good for the soul! cleaning can be, if not overdone!!
pc,
It's always a trade off, ain't it? If I could afford a cook... . And we will always need to hire handymen.
I'd have given up a limb for someone to clean when I was in school. A scout, like in Oxford.
RR,
Thinking about this last night, when maids come in when we are more than one night at a hotel. I get a bit freaked out about my bed being made and my stuff handled when I'm not there.
gz,
I'm not a clean freak. But I love it done, if not the doing.
We have a cleaning lady that comes in every second Tuesday, with a key hidden nearby she lets herself in as we are all at work/school. Having her help us this way releases some pressure on our time which at this stage in our life is very dear.
Phil,
That seems very sensible. Like having brownies around.
"My work, my garden, my joy." I LOVE THIS! It does bring a lot of joy, and a thrill when things work out or surprise you (which is often - even now with years of gardening under my belt)!
FG,
Yeah! Yeah.
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