Hello, Gentle Readers. Welcome to Week 9 of social isolation, quarantine, lockdown — whatever you want to call it. I hope you are well, physically and mentally.
How are things here, you ask? Well…this was breakfast on Saturday:
John: What are you doing today?
Me (looking up from newspaper): I don’t know. What are you doing?
John: I was going to do a little vacuuming.
Me: Oh. That’s good. (Goes back to newspaper)
John (clears throat): I’d like to vacuum the foyer, but there seem to be some boxes there.
Me (defensive, putting down paper again): Yeah, well, some of those are for clients.
John: Sephora?
Me: Listen. “Aging in place” has taken on new meaning. I’m getting older every day. I feel bad! I needed to do something!
John (soothingly): I know, I know…it’s totally fine. But…what’s in the other boxes? Do you know?
Me: Well. There’s a mattress pad in there somewhere, but it’s the wrong size.
John: Ok. (Wisely decides not to ask follow-up question.)
Me: And there’s a skateboard.
John: ?
Me: Georgie ordered it. She says she’ll practice in the alley now that there aren’t many cars back there.
John: In a mask?
Me: I guess. And the small packages are samples for work.
John: Should I take them upstairs for you?
Me: Well, I was going to open them down here so I didn’t carry the packaging up, because if I throw it away upstairs, it’s just going to have to come down again eventually.
John: So, no?
Me: No. Thanks, though.
John (hesitantly): Are there going to be…uh…will there be more boxes coming, do you think?
Me: Yes. I ordered a shoe rack from The Container Store and some baskets from World Market for recyclables in the bathrooms. You know, like used-up toilet paper rolls. And I think some more stuff from Amazon. I can’t remember what, but I remember we really needed it. I should look it up. And a sweater, because it’s getting cold again and I hate all my clothes. But now that I think about it, I paid for rush shipping so I wouldn’t miss the cold snap, and it’s not here yet. OH! And I ordered an ottoman for the family room! It was really cheap.
John: Didn’t you just blog about how buying cheap furniture online was a mistake because it’s so poorly made and wouldn’t last?
Me (exasperated): NO! That’s not what I wrote at all. I said the furniture WAS crap, but as long as it’s dirt cheap and you manage your expectations, it’s ok to do right now because we’re in the middle of a pandemic. You totally missed the point.
John: I’m sorry. I’ll read it again.
(Then, hesitatingly): Do we need an ottoman?
Me: YES. Because the tables in front of the sofa are 19″ high, and that’s too tall to have your feet on for a whole movie. It hurt my knees. So the ottoman is like 17″ high, which will be much better. I hope there’s no permanent damage. To my knees, I mean.
John (quickly): Oh, me too. I hope your knees are ok.
Me (bravely): Thanks. I’m sure they’ll be fine.
John: Good. So, ah, can I help you move those boxes so I can vacuum?
Me: But you don’t know where everything goes.
John:
Me: Maybe you could vacuum around the boxes? Or, you know what? The foyer really doesn’t look that dirty to me. It’s only been a few weeks. Maybe you could skip it?
John: (Sighs.) That might be best.
Annie: Yeah. Maybe next weekend.
I hope things are going a little more productively at your house, Gentle Readers. Stay safe.
Happy Mother’s Day, Gentle Readers! That includes cat and dog moms. Annie Elliott Design is based in Washington, DC, but we travel for fun projects. Annie’s design work and insights have appeared in numerous local and national publications, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Washingtonian Magazine. Annie will be participating in the ASPIRE HOUSE, a designers’ showcase, this fall.