Madly spinning electric meter

Sunday, 6:15 pm

By Kate

Jan

20

2008

Much laundry being washed and dried today. I am using the dryer for the first time since the Thanksgiving flood. Had I planned things out a little better, I could have washed and dried without the dryer, but today is here and the lad needs clean clothes to take to his Dad’s house for the next couple of days. My electric meter reading tomorrow morning is going to be ghastly. Nevertheless, I readily admit that the convenience of a dryer is really, really nice once in a while. It sort of feels like living in the lap of luxury for a day. That bears thinking about.

This morning the lad and I cleaned house. And sorted the recycling and dragged trash bags outside—the ones from our room swapping exercise. He washed the dishes from his party last night. And we dragged in a goodly supply of wood. I think that just about takes care of necessary chores. It was very nice having his help, though he did say that half the work was a result of his being here. He’s not into rinsing a cup or glass out and reusing it. Nor is he much for rinsing a dish before the food dries to it. When one does the dishes by hand a few times, one begins to appreciate what rinsing a cup, mug, or dish out means in terms of future work. Washing the dishes by hand this afternoon was a learning experience for him, I do believe.

Even though we hustled right along with the chores, it was fun. We had a good time. I’m soaking these moments up, naturally. They’ll be over for a while after next weekend. He will be at his Dad’s house until Wednesday, so that leaves two more days here at home before I take him back to school. Most of that time will involve more laundry and packing. He’s beginning to look forward to it and, in some regards, so am I. I love having him home, but my normal routine has been upended for the last month and a half. I’m sure that I’ll wander around the house acutely feeling the absence of his presence for a couple of days, but that does seem to pass much more quickly each time he leaves. It surely has been a terrific vacation, though. Can’t believe it is nearly gone.