I always arrive home with at least 5 or 6 things to carry from the car to the house. Groceries, yoga mat, bag, bottle of water (usually without a top) etc. My house key is attached to my wallet looped around my wrist. I approach the door and usually manage to open the storm door without putting anything down. Then, hands still full, I attempt to grab the key dangling from my wrist, put it the hole, twist it and push the door open, enter the kitchen and put everything on the counter, without dropping anything. I risk alot doing this, as sometimes my grocery bags contain glass containers that would make a huge mess and break things I just paid for, but yet I continue to do this day after day.
This summer I pushed it too far. I was painting the front porch and had the gallon of white paint sitting on the ladder. Time came to move the ladder, and even though I told myself I should put the paint on the ground first, I continued to move the ladder without doing so and sure enough, it got caught on the porch floor and the whole can of paint flew off the ladder and spilled onto the concrete, creating a huge white pool. My mouth just hung open in shock and surprise, like I never expected this could happen. Now, because of my ego and haste, I had a really big mess to clean up. I stood there and surveyed the situation. The paint can was completely upside-down, trapping still more paint inside. I had no choice but to right the can and increase the huge white pool that was now beginning to run over the edge of the porch. The paint was very thick – almost gel like. I got the idea that if I put gloves on I could actually scoop it up with my hands and put it back in the can. It worked. I was actually able to save over half a gallon of paint, but I still had a white mess on the concrete. My next idea was to fill huge bowls with hot water and carry it out and pour it over the big stain. After many trips with the hot water, the stain was finally gone. Only then did I realize that by taking the two seconds to put the can on the ground before moving the ladder, I could’ve been done painting the porch in the time it took to clean up the mess.
But did learn from it? No. I continue to refuse to make two trips from the car or put the parcels down to unlock the door. One of these days it’s going to cost me alot and what I drop is going to be irreplaceable.
And so, as another day goes by, beginning this brand new year, I will put down that which I carry, then enter, taking only what I need inside, and….for the first time in 2011, I have written.
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