I have to admit it.
I'm not always a nice person.
I've had my moments.
Confession time.
This is my worst one . . .
I was doing something important!
Well . . . important to me.
All right, I was reading.
But it was a good book!
Sigh.
You're right. I have no excuse . . .
We had a large family.
And several hired men.
“Diane. Dishes!”
Meals were plentiful.
The dishes following said meal?
Numerous.
And the time required to clean them?
Extensive.
“Diane this is the second time I've
called you! Come and wash the dishes!”
It was my turn.
But . . . my book!
Another sigh.
Mom poked her head into the living
room, where I was so happily engrossed. “Diane, this is the third
time. I'm not going to ask you again!”
Oh good. If she wasn't going to ask me
again that meant I was in the clear, right?
Wrong.
Dad came out of his office. “Diane.”
“Fine.” I carefully closed my book
and set it down. Then, feet dragging, headed mutinously for the
kitchen.
And the 'mountain' of dishes waiting
for me.
Mom was putting the last of the
left-overs away.
“The dishwasher's empty, dear,” she
said.
“Hrmphrfmphmrfamum,” I said.
I should point out a couple of things
here.
Our dishwasher was the 'roll out' kind.
It normally resided under the cupboard.
When needed, it was pulled into the
centre of the room, loaded with dishes, and rolled to the sink.
Where it was connected to the faucet.
It was heavy.
And my mom,
she-of-the-annoying-habit-of-finding-chores, was standing directly in
front.
I grabbed the handle and, regardless of
what portion of my mother's body was in the way, pulled.
I caught the toes of one of her feet
under the front of the dishwasher.
She yelped and jumped out of the way.
I mumbled an unconvincing apology and,
feeling rather ashamed of myself, continued with my chore.
I really didn't mean to hurt my mom.
I was crabby and feeling ornery.
And that's absolutely no excuse.
Forty years later, I still regret it.
Temper and immaturity.
Not a good combination.
To this day, I wish I could kiss that
poor bruised foot and tell her how sorry I am.
Maybe someday, I'll get the chance.
We can only hope we did enough good things to make up for those that make us sorrowful. I try not to dwell on my past mistakes too too much...just enough to not repeat them.
ReplyDeleteGood thoughts! I do try to do good things. And not let the past torture me. But sometimes, I remember . . .
DeleteWell at least you did it. Today I ask my son to clean up the mess he left behind and I'll be talking three days and maybe I won;t have to do it myself. lol
ReplyDeleteI didn't quite take me three days . . .:)
DeleteIts hard to regret things that you should--or shouldn't- have done. Especially when they are gone. My biggest regret is never making time to go bowling with my brother when he would call to ask me. Unfortunately, he died before I was ever able to make time.
ReplyDeletewww.momontherunx2.com
I totally understand. You have to remember the things you DID do. :)
DeleteWe all do and say things we wish we hadn't, we can only move on and be better the next time we are in the same situation;)
ReplyDeleteMove on. Be better. Wise, wise words!
Delete