“I’ve been working all day,” I defend myself to my ninety two year old neighbor. “Just look at me!” I indicated the mess that I am, as surely anyone can see. “I haven’t even had time for a shower!”
“You need to do something. You’re just lazy. And you need to clean yourself up. You’re a mess.”
“But I’m not lazy. I’ve been working since seven o’clock this morning! And I know I’m a mess. I’m going to clean up as soon as I’m done cleaning the house, re-potting my plants, pulling weeds, dead-heading the flowers, and scouring out our bathroom. ”
“Look at your dogs,” she reaches down to pet one. “They’ve been locked in the yard all day. They haven’t even been over to see me.” She peers closely into Rita’s eyes and asks, “Does she ever take you for a walk?”
“I walked them first thing this morning as I do every morning. Really, they’re spoiled beyond reason.”
She continues to pet the dogs while talking to me. “You are a terrible dog owner. You should give them away.”
“I am not a terrible dog owner. They get a good walk every morning and they get to run around the yard all day. In a little while I’m going to take them down to the beach. They can run around and swim if they want to.”
“Well it’s about time you did something nice for them. They’re good dogs. Too bad they don’t have a good owner.” She looks at me and starts laughing. She knows she’s driving my crazy and she’s having a great time doing it.
“Okay, well I’m back to work,” I stand to leave. “I have one more hour worth of work to do and then I’m done for the day.”
“I’m glad you’re doing something anyway. It’s better than just sitting around doing nothing. Let the dogs out once in a while will ya? I miss them.”
“I will,” I say as I head around to the front of the house.
“Where’s that husband of yours?” She hollers after me. “Sitting around doing nothing?”
“He’s at work, remember? He’s the one that makes the money in our household. He works, unlike me. I just sit around doing nothing.”
She laughs. This is the way it has been for years and I don’t think either one of us would have it any other way.
Later,
Mary Ann
Sounds like a conversation you and I could have in a few years.