Tidy Soul

Used to Be Mother lives by the addage that cleanliness is next to godliness. She can't relax until all the dishes are done, put away, floor swept, dishwasher emptied, papers recycled. She was efficient and could work circles around others. She was quick and decisive. Today as she helped to clear the table or tidy up the house, you could see that addage ruling her actions; however, she can't make a decision. Where does this go? What do I do with this? Every single thing she touched. My sister, in her characteristic humour, took some of the flyers from the newspaper out of her hand and stuffed them down her shirt. Used to Be laughs enjoying this game. At the restaurant last night, she wanted to clear and stack all the plates. From her intense and determined manner, you'd think this was her job. It used to be her job. Years ago. I remember going to her work one day with my Nasha (godmother). Mom served me an ice cream float - my first - with whipped cream, a maraschino cherry all in a very large cone shaped glass. She wore a starched uniform and she had polished her worn shoes. I remember feeling so proud that I had my very own float and that my mother was clearly so good at her job. When it came time to play the bill, she found exact change in her purse. Right to the penny. When we told her to just leave it on the table she was worried that someone was going to steal that money. I wondered if she had lived that experience. She wanted to hide the tip under the plates for the waiter. She wanted to make sure he received it but she also wanted to make sure he knew she had given it to him. Used to be Mother could hardly wait to go home, put her teeth in a cup and get into her nightie. She'd had a full day.