pocoapocowithsmile

Cleaning and Neil 掃除とニール

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Neil and Raiden

BOM BOM BOM BOM KABOOM ‼️💥

OMG What happened!! Rutsu jumped out of the basement. I ran down the stairs. Oh no. I knew it! I knew something would happen. It was too good of a deal….And….. it did.

“Oh Sxxx! Fxxx!” Swears Neil.

I’ve been married to Neil for 20 years now. Yesterday, for the very first time, he said to me that he will help me with vacuuming today. “What?” “Really?” Half unsure, half skeptical, I handed over the vacuum cleaner to him.

So, the enormous sound….what has fallen down the stairs was not Neil, blessedly. It was our expensive vacuum cleaner. It fell all the way down from the top of the wooden stairs. We bought this one 9 years ago. It’s a German made, high quality, but incredibly heavy machine. Every time I use it, I feel like my hip would go twisted. It was alright, I could manage it 9 years ago. But now….it’s getting too heavy for an old woman over 60. So, my friend has been helping me with vacuuming every 2 weeks for the last few years in exchange for some cash.

Of course, after the Covid-19 pandemic, this had to be stopped. Now, it’s me who has to vacuum every 2 weeks whipping my pain-dreaded back and hip.

Neil is incredibly clumsy. And, he is a giant. He is 6’9 tall, and weighs over 270 lb. When one is that big, apparently, it becomes easier to break bones, even with a minor pressure or twist. He needs to be extra careful not to be slipping and falling. Nevertheless, he has been struggling endlessly with his bad knees, back, ankle, hernia….the list goes on. Every time he has trouble, my daily life gets messed up. So, I have been overprotective of him and not been asking him, “would you do this?” Or “Would you do that?”

So this husband of mine got so concerned for my back, and offered to help me with vacuuming. Isn’t it amazing? “Are you sure? It’s really heavy….!” I reluctantly handed it over to him. But, what a heroic vacuum cleaner it is! Of course, it’s German, expected to be a tough one! There was not even a scratch and it kept on going for another 3 hours!

Whew….

So grateful to have a clean house again. So grateful that Neil did not fall down the stairs. So grateful for Neil’s warm caring for me. The pandemic reminded me of some wonderful gratitudes. Thank you! 🙏😊

ガラガラガラガッチャーン‼️💥

すごい音がした。ルツが驚いて飛び出してきた。私も「あっちゃー。やってくれた〜」と階下に走り降りた。何かが絶対起こるような気がしてた。やっぱり…現実になった。

Oh Sxxxx! Fxxx! を連発するニール。

ニールと結婚して20年、初めてニールが「僕がバキュームするよ」と言ってくれて「ええ?ホントに?」と半ば信じられない思いでためらいながら掃除機を渡した昨日の出来事だった。

先ほどのすごい音は、9年前に購入したドイツ製の高価な掃除機が階段の上から下まで転げ落ちた音だった。この掃除機はえらく高性能なんだけど、ものすごく重いのがたまに傷。私には重すぎて掃除機を使うたびに腰がひん曲がりそうになる。9年前にはまだ良かったけど、もう60を超えたご老体にはかなり堪える。で、ここ数年来、友人に来てもらっていくばくかの報酬を差し上げて、2週間に一度バキュームしてをもらっていた。

それがご存知のようにコロナのパンデミックで来てもらえなくなった。仕方なく2週間ごとに私が痛い腰に鞭打ちつつバキュームする羽目に…

ニールは注意力散漫で驚くべきドジである上に、巨人だ。身長が2メートル7センチもありゆうに130キロを超える体重を抱える。ここまで巨体だとちょっとした転倒で骨が折れるし、常に、背骨だ腰だ膝だ脱腸だ…とそれゆえのトラブルはあとをたたない。その度に私の生活がかき回されるので、どうしても過保護に扱いがちになり、あれやってくれる?これやってくれる?と頼むことが少なくなってた。

そのニールが私の腰を気づかってバキュームしてくれると言う。「重いよ〜 大丈夫?」と言いながら渡した掃除機。階段から落ちたもののさすがのドイツ製、びくともせず、3時間の掃除に耐えてくれた。

ホッ

家の中がきれいになってくれて感謝。落ちたのがニールでなかったことに感謝。ニールの優しい思いやりに感謝。パンデミックで家にいるしかない今でこその貴重な経験だね。ありがとう。

Author: Haruyo Abramson

I'm a musician, mom, and grandma, living in BC, Canada with my husband and three dogs.

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