As quiet as a Mouse...........

My house...really! And I am not sure how to act...should I jump and shout? Should I sit quietly "in the zone"....???

Today was a busy day...we spent it on a run! After getting up and getting my coffee (trust me, NOTHING, NO ONE, moves far in this house, until I have had my coffee....I'm just saying.....)

It was "D" Day. Or, actually "E" Day....we got up and headed to Roseburg to the VA so that Max could get his ears. We have been waiting forever, and finally, today...it was time!!!

Now, for background? Max was in the Service, and between jumping out of planes, (parachute on, or so he says), and training and driving tanks, (pulling up between two tanks, and having their "cannons" go of simultaneously, causing his helmet to "leave" his head and fly out the thingy ma jobbie, like my technical babble?), causing his eardrums to blow...well, his hearing was a bit bad...and it was getting worse, and driving him nuts. (I am not saying a word here). So, after much paperwork, Dr. appts, and trips hither and yon......he got his ears!

Our drive home? It was a marvel of hearing! He has always been picky about his rigs, as a truck driver, and his life depending on the shape and condition of the rig (nothing like hauling 11,300 gallons of fuel down the narrow twisty highway that is known as "101", cruising behind all those Motorhomes driven by people who have never seen the Coast...not to mention the fact that the road turns on itself....and they just don't get it). But the car? He heard every sound! It about drove him nuts!!!!! (notice, still no words coming from my mouth?). The restaurant? Noisy as all get-out.......the clatter of silverware? The birds? The women BEHIND me?

When we got home, I stopped at his Mom's house...then came on in....and.... it.... was...... quiet. The TV? Hardly making a sound! Now, should I confess? I can hardly hear it! And the newspaper? It is making TOO much noise!!!! He just said: (and I quote), "If you can hear as good as I can right now? No wonder I drove you crazy".......Yep, Music to my ears!!!

So, should I confess something else? Yes? No? Maybe? No, really, I need to get it off my chest......the other day, I was talking to Brandi...and I gave her a "virtual" tour of the house. Walking through, describing everything that was everywhere. The couch? Scrapbooking and Cardmaking supplies.....Max's guitar.....Quilt pieces.......by my chair? Note paper, Penny Rug in progress.....basket of yarn...purses waiting to be felted. Scarves, (the cold weather is over...but, they'll be ready for next year!), my Country Sampler magazine, waiting to be read, Family Sheets to be added to the Genealogy.......on to the table? Are you brave? Early 1900 photos, card blanks, more felt....picture frame, punches...and on and on it went......Well, it suddenly occurred to me last night that we would be leaving today....on a trip...(three hours one way..so not a HUGE trip, but still......), and what if something HAPPENED TO ME???? And I died?????? And the kids came to help Max......and the girls saw the house? Then they would KNOW.....their MIL IS A SLOB!!! So, before bed last night, I ripped around the house, grabbing, stacking, hiding, stashing.....and then I went to bed, and got up, grabbed my coffee, and continued with the stashing.....I was BREATHLESS....and still the house was a MESS......and still, the worry...what if? HUH? Brandi and Livvy have never seen my housekeeping.....I am a clean person, but I am a cluttered person....I try...but the house is small, and I need to have a LOT of different things.....my attention span is short sometimes, and I swap things out.....of course, doing that this way means that when I finally finish things...well, I LOOK like I am terribly productive...and I just don't share that it has taken me yea......no, a LONG time to get to that place.....I believe that ignorance is bliss...it is my world..what more can I say? Now, this makes me remember my ex-MIL....I went to visit one day before they left for their vacation to AR....and she was SCRUBBING the stove....with all of her muscles...with all of her energy. And she had done that to the entire house! In a space of a couple of days. Now the funny thing was....she was a spotless housekeeper. When she saw me staring at her in awe.....she told me, in all seriousness...that it had to be clean. Because if they had a car accident? And she died? She didn't want the neighbors to see the house until it was SPOTLESS....didn't want them talking about her bad housekeeping ....(HA!)....I never understood that...but now, I do.......and it scares the holy heck out of me!!!

Well, it is late now, and I am exhausted.....and tomorrow is another day. And I can guarantee that by day after tomorrow, the house will be back to normal.....and the panic will begin again at a later date....such is life in the Franklin House.....