Terry
is going a bit stir crazy.
As
all of us in long-term relationships understand, there are certain
little things we can use for checking in on our significant others.
Some of these signs tell us they need a hug… some tell us to get
the heck out of the way.
Right
now, Terry needs a bit of fresh air and a few days off.
Nothing
unusual there. In fact, a sunshiny day and a relaxing couple of
hours sounds like a nice prescription for everyone.
What
gave it away?
Terry
wants to change up the bathroom. New rugs… new shower curtain…
maybe a bit of paint and a new set of shelves.
Like
all of you, I have stuff stored in various places around the home.
And in our basement are several storage containers with wonderfully
descriptive labels like: “mauve”… “blue”… green”… and “tropical”.
If you looked inside of them, you would find all the bathmats
and toothbrush holders you could ever possibly imagine might reside
in the same house.
For
the most part, I get it. As is the case with just about every
plan or thought Terry shares with me, in the end she’s absolutely
right. Changing things up clears the head and freshens things
up in ways that really defy all description and logic. It’s different…
fun… kind of a shiver and shake for doldrums. It’s a visual stimulus
that wakes you up, and even in just a small way can cheer you
up.
About
thirty years ago, I was sitting in an office.
At
the time, I was going to school in Syracuse, New York. It is often
said about this fine city that there are two seasons – winter
and July 4th. Funny joke. And as you may have heard, the best
jokes are built upon a bit of truth.
In
the back of the offices was a washer and dryer. Happened to be
a fairly decent day out by Syracuse standards, with us emerging
from the winter season. A few windows were open, and the absolutely
amazing scent of Downey came floating into the office on a cool
breeze.
That
treat brought me immediately back to my childhood. My parents
and grandparents (and many neighbors) used to hang more clothes
from the laundry than they placed in the dryer. And after being
shut in the house for the cold and the snow, those first waves
of Downey in the air coming from the clothes on the line provided
much more than a signal that the laundry was almost done.
That
scent is magical elixir that jostles the mind out of a chill-infused
blues. It provides a sign that the days were getting longer… and
warmer… and the outdoors was calling like an expected but long
overdue friend.
Terry
has been on the hunt for a new shower curtain. I’m watching the
weather forecasts and figure I just might be able to head into
the yard and set up our clothesline at some point perhaps only
a few weeks from now.
A
new bathmat and Downey in the air. No surer signs of a welcome
new season.