Angels vs Devils

Greetings from Domelandia,

I'm from a long line of Good German Girls. We keep clean, organized homes, we're good cooks, we're hellcats in bed, and sweet as pie to grocery store clerks and waitresses (unless they piss us off--then all bets are off).

I've been spending a lot of time in the garden this summer. A couple of times I've looked up from whatever I was watering or weeding or building to discover that the Viking was driving up the road after a hard day's work with no supper even thought about, much less started!! I have been so engaged that I completely lose track of what time it is. Don't get me wrong, the payroll gets done, the checkbook gets balanced, the dishes and clothes get washed, but those things are squeezed in around working (playing) in the garden.

And is it gorgeous! We're being rewarded with pounds and pounds of picture-perfect green beans (three kinds), squash, sweet baby carrots, Swiss chard, etc, etc, all packed with vitamins and minerals and the satisfaction that comes with growing some of your own food.

I looked around my house a couple of weeks ago and thought, OMG! This place looks like hell!
Floors unswept, the Viking's library and our family photos dim with dust, windows in need of a wash. (HOW long has it been since I cleaned the bathroom)? And Sister is coming next week!!

My friend Penny told me about a friend of hers who needs work. So I called Lisa, and she came over and helped me clean my house. As soon as we'd arranged her first visit, I got a bad case of the guilts. Good German Girls do it all, and look good doing it, and certainly do not hire outside help to clean their homes! The very idea.

I had a clear picture of my dilemma using the memory of an old-school cartoon.

On one shoulder, a devil whispering in my ear: You're lazy. You're selfish. You're wasting The Viking's hard-earned money.

On the other shoulder, an angel: It's OK to spend time doing what you love to do. You're providing quality food for your family. You'll be helping someone earn money. Your house will be clean.

I listened to the angel. The house feels wonderful, and I haven't felt guilty at all since I figured out that it wasn't the devil who was talking shit to me, it was my mother-in-law.