Rainy Sunday Offers a Chance to Attack Clutter

The voices on the other end of three morning phone conversations were all complaining about the heavy rain outside. I could sympathize with their dashed plans yet I decided empathy would get me nowhere.

With my boys tucked away up island at the cousins' house and the rain washing out my regular Sunday morning tennis match, I converted rainy days blues to taking a hard look around me. I faced the music and addressed the domestic summer doldrums that had invaded my home.

Yes, it is true, my abode had been been terribly neglected over the past several weeks. Clutter had piled up everywhere, the first layer had been established by the end of the first hour that summer break had begun. The summer was off with a bang and continued on target, never deviating from its cheerful, meandering path toward Labor Day. Sunny, fun-filled, busy days, whether at work or play, continued daily with an almost, frenzied rhythm.

Boys. Twins. Active. The super trifecta delivers a lot more than I can recommend to anyone but the most energetic caregivers. The personal daily regime I follow to maintain my own energy and wit, is a daily multi-vitamin and all kinds of "superfoods", i.e., blueberries, cantaloupe, mango smoothies, green salads, grilled chicken and, last but my most favorite, raw fish (sashimi).  

Oh, and did I mention 3 to 4 cups of homemade Starbucks French Roast before 9 a.m.?  Oh yes, it's true. I very much rely on my caffeine intake to run with the pace car of my day.

This morning, the frenetic summer pace slowed to a standstill and domestic reality set in as the rain came down on all outdoor plans. The stark reality of the great indoors was eye opening, stirring a call to arms to take on the impending crush of clutter, which threatened to bring down an otherwise somewhat organized family existence.

The result by midday:  School backpacks were washed, first emptied of the many pounds of notebooks sent home the last day of fourth grade. Unsigned permission slips and notices went into the recycling bin. (As mother of twins, I sign only one slip for two boys and read only one set of duplicate notices, smart time saver huh?) Summer camp shirts have been washed, dried, and stowed away for next year.

An inventory of the boys' clothing was taken to assess what still fits and what might be suitable for school wear.  Rejects were packed in a bag, put in the car ready to be dropped into the first charity clothing bin that comes across my path.

The soaking rain delivered a bonus, as it completely rinsed of the dust and mud from my vehicle, which had collected along a very long lane in Orient from a visit with friends the previous evening.

What's not to love about a heavy rainfall on a rainy summer Sunday?  True, the bilge pump on the boat needs to be run and I'm going to get soaked once I finally get the courage to get out there!