Tonight, I found myself standing in a real kitchen cooking real food. It was glorious. It's been so long since I've been able to dig in and actually help make what I was about to eat. Peeling potatoes? A joy! Pounding steaks? A delight! Making brownies? Simply divine.
But what I really enjoyed was washing the dishes afterward. I know, I know. I feel weird even saying that, but, it almost almost felt like I was at home standing at the sink washing my family's dishes for the meal. And that was lovely.
Now trust me, I didn't normally fall over in a faint of happiness when I had to wash the dishes at home. Here is in fact, a typical scenario . . .
Dad: I want you kids to clean up the kitchen right after dinner.
*all rise*
(Alden looks around at the carnage with his hands on his hips, then takes note of all attendees)
Phillip: Umm, guys? I have to go to the bathroom . . .
Alden: NO. You always have to go to the bathroom right when we start to work.
Phillip: But I really have to go!
Alden: I don't care.
(Phillip runs from the room. Clearly he had to go bad enough to risk all of our wrath)
Austin: We won't see him again for the next 30 min.
All: NERD.
Mareena: Well, we're stuck here doing it anyway, so let's just do it
Alden: We have to make sure we save some stuff for Phillip to do. He would be heartbroken if we didn't.
Spencer: Yeah! Heartbroken.
Alden: Whatever, Spencer. You're such a pest
Spencer: I'm not a pest!!
Austin: Uh, yes. You are.
Spencer: Stoooopp makking fuuuun of me!
(Alden pulls out a dishtowel and proceeds to chase Spencer and Austin around the room, snapping them at every possible opportunity. Dishtowels soon magically appear in the hands of the victims, as they start to retaliate. Yelling and yelping ensues. )
Mareena: WHO JUST HIT ME??!
Spencer: It wasn't me! It wasn't me!
Mareena: Whatever, Spencer. (turns to do more dishes)
Alden: Victory is mine! (swoops in for a final attack, hitting Mareena in the process)
Mareena: That's it! Everyone out! I'll do the kitchen by myself!
Alden: Really?
Austin: Really?
Spencer: What?
Mareena: Get. OUT. If Dad asks what's going on, telling him I wanted to do it all by myself.
Boys: Cool! See ya.
(Boys quickly exit, stage left. Mareena sighs, turning back to the sink and the pile of dishes.)
Ah. It sounds just like Cinderella, doesn't it? Well, except for there was clearly no Prince Charming to be found anywhere. This basic scenario happened many, many times as I was growing up. But to be honest, I enjoyed being the martyr. I got to be alone for a while, plus then I got all the credit for cleaning and didn't have to share any with my marauding brothers. Credit where credit is due, I say.
But tonight, it wasn't quite like that. It's been so long since I'd washed dishes, that it was just rather soothing. I felt very . . . womanly? It felt natural, like maybe, I should belong in a kitchen someday. I liked that feeling. As much as I enjoy accounting and business and all the things related to it, I have a hard time seeing myself tearing up the workplace or climbing the corporate ladder and all that jazz all the time. I'm much too content for that. And it's good to know that after I put in a hard day of work, I could come back to my house and just relax while doing the dishes. So you see, I'm embracing my inner homemaker. I think we'll become good friends.
m(r)
P.S. Just in case you wondered, Phillip usually returned from the bathroom . . . right as I finished cleaning. That kid had perfect timing. He was a wonder.
*laughing* Brothers! :)