I have never been overly bothered by dirt. My wife calls me a “messy”. She stole the term from a book she read. It seems to fit.
A good example comes from school. I arrived early, entered my room, sat down at my desk and got to work. Later another teacher came in and the first words out of his mouth were, “What happened to your wall?” I was mystified so I walked across to see what he was talking about.
The janitors used my room to park an electrical cart and charge it over night. That usually was no problem but it seems that last night someone’s foot got stuck on the accelerator and the cart had bounced of the side wall, rushed across the room and hit on the other side. Whoever was driving did not clean up the mess. The two holes were matched by piles of rubble on the floor. I had stepped across one as I came through the door. I had no clue. When they were pointed out, they were obvious. I had not noticed them. Why the custodians had not cleaned them up, I have no idea.
You see my problem.
I am also beginning to wonder if part of my problem with dirt is that I can’t see it. I have always worn glasses and am a bit color blind. Today I suddenly noticed what looked like spots on the clock by my chair. It was a trick of lighting that made them stand out. When I brought the clock within range I noticed that it was a mess. I dug out my lens cleaning materials and made it shine. It had obviously been a long time since it had been tended to. I look at it many times a day and saw nothing.
My wife gripes about mold in the shower. I have found that if I look before I shower I can see spots to scrub at. If I wait until I take off my glasses and get in, I see no problem. Even when I know it is there I have a hard time seeing it.
As I get older and my wife gets less inclined to clean up after me I am getting more involved with the problem. I am not sure which is more a problem, caring or seeing. I am part of that group of men who ask, “Why make the bed, I am just going to get in again tonight.” Or, “Why fold my underwear, I am just going to use it again.”
Pray for my wife. She is a neatnik.
homo unius libri
Making your bed is a sure-fire way to not let the moisture out left from any slight sweating that you may have done in the night. It also doesn't let the sheets air out. Personally, I think making a bed is counter productive to having a healthy, good-smelling place to sleep.
ReplyDeleteAs for the rest, neatness and sanitation are not the same thing. I've seen some VERY neat, but unsanitary, people, and other folks who were just the opposite.
I hear you. I had forgotten that last point.
DeleteGrace and peace.