I do believe I used to be a force to be reckoned with. I was unstoppable. If I got an Idea in my head, look out cuz it was happening.  I can’t count how many times I’ve moved furniture across a room, across a house, upstairs, downstairs, across town, or across the country. I’ve ripped down wallpaper, ripped up floors, built shelves, moved walls, laid flooring….I’ve done everything.

Brad was always very supportive, as long as he didn’t have to pay or participate. Don’t get me wrong, he did a few projects himself, but we had one big difference when it came to things like this. He was a perfectionist and would talk himself (and me) out of doing things because he knew he couldn’t do it perfectly. I, on the other hand, would start sawing something before I had a clear idea of what I was trying to do. I figured I would just go with it. It usually turned out pretty good. And since I am not a perfectionist, pretty good was good enough.

I had amazing stamina. I could work all day, night, week, on a project and wade through the mess it always made until it was all put back together. Sinking into a couch, chair or bed after finishing a big job was always an awesome feeling. I had done it. I had conquered the massive beast and come out victorious.

Yeah, I remember those days. Those days of long ago. Those days are gone. I learned this today.

Baby G has acquired not only the throne in our home but a whole lot of ‘stuff’ that is slowing taking over every inch of our house. Today she started nosing into the Closet under the stairs. We don’t go in there. It’s not inhabited or anything, no wannabe Harry Potter residing in there. No, it is just a ‘random storage closet full of things I don’t want to deal with’. G was really interested in getting in the closet and climbing over all the unstable boxes and bags and random sharp things.  After peeking in, I decided what the heck, let’s empty this and give it to her. It would be a great place to move all her family room stuff and clear out things a bit.

Little did I know.

I have quite a bit of food storage. All of it is rather heavy. After moving about four cans of wheat, I was ready for a nap, Hot Bath, Advil, and someone else to finish the job. I managed to get 1-1/2 of those. Ben begrudgingly lugged heavy stuff to his room (storage area), and I survived due to Advil.  I was amazed at how quickly I just wanted to shove it all back in and say forget it. What happened to me?

At the end of the day, G has a nice closet (she calls it her castle) with a big pillow and princes mirror, and I have a better idea of what I have in storage. I also realized how much room I have for storage in this house. It’s pretty cool.  What I don’t have is a finished project. All those little things that don’t really belong anywhere are not loitering in the hallway by my room. They will probably stay there until they are successful in tripping me and breaking my leg or something. Then I’ll just throw it all away. But, until then….I’m still thinking about it.

I’m an adult. I can take a hot bath every night if I (need) want to.

Photo credit: Oliver Jeffers