My question is “Will the Corona Virus make me a better housekeeper?” The truth is I’ve always been a crummy housekeeper. That’s to be distinguished from being a good homemaker which I believe I am. My home is quite lovely and comfortable with precious, much-handed-down furniture, handsome rugs, great artwork.
But housekeeping is another matter – there are grimy countertops, a refrigerator filled with bits of ancient left-overs and an oven with reminders of meals past. As for dust under the bed, my policy has always been to let it gather where it was most comfortable. Dog hair, cat hair – if the animals can live without it, then I can live with it.
Of course, until recently, I always had plenty of excuses for my messy house. I was too busy writing, going to workshops, cooking, gardening, shopping, walking the dog, having lunch with friends, taking a Pilates class. In fact, I’ve been busy doing everything except clean my house.
Now, however, I have almost no excuses – no lunch with friends, no Pilates class; no shopping. I’ve been forced to gaze at my grimy countertop, dusty floors and hair-embedded rugs for hours and hours and hours. Finally, in desperation, I got out the Windex, the Lysol, the mop and, God forbid, even the vacuum cleaner. It took a while to figure out how the vacuum worked but, frankly, I’ve discovered housecleaning is not as bad as I thought it would be. No, it’s not as enjoyable as a good mystery. And doesn’t compare to lunch with a friend. But it’s bearable. It can be tolerated until this siege is over. Then comes the ultimate question: Will my messy habits return? Or will I receive the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval?
At present, the answer is unknowable . But it’s possible some good may come of this plague, after all.
Thank you Rosemary, for your story! “Inside Our Time” digital series:
