Common Bonds

I first knew I had a problem when I decided to clean under my television set, having not moved it in three years ... and I found a piece of pizza under it. I didn't have any kids at the time, so I KNEW it had to be ME.

I bought a new refrigerator a few years ago and the ice cube trays were imprinted with  "Dishwasher Safe" and I thought to myself ... you WASH them?

My ceiling fan broke and my husband replaced it for me.  When he removed the fan, I noticed that the blades were caked with a half inch of dust!   Who'da thunk??  Wouldn't you think that with those blades whirling around all day long ... that the dust would have nothing to hold on to and fly right off the blades?

My Kirby vacuum salesman performed a demonstration on my bed (keep your thoughts clean folks!) and showed me all the scuz that came out of my mattress. Sheesh, during leaner times, I can remember spraying Lysol on the sheets to freshen them between washings ... just so I could go another week without having to launder the bedding!  But ...who'd ever think of vacuuming their mattress!!  Worse yet, who'd think there was ANYthing lurking beneath them while they slept?!?!

When I ran out of Comet I'd use my little green pot scrubber to clean the kitchen sink. I discovered that it did a perfect job of looking clean and I have saved money all these years on cleanser. Never did I realize that we CLEAN the sink to disinfect it ... not just to get the food down the drain or the marks off the porcelain.

I'd damp mop the kitchen floor with just plain water ... and then bravely walk barefoot into the kitchen for my mid-night snacks.  I gave no second thought as to what kind of bacteria I'd bring back with me as I crawled back into my bed.

I never vacuumed my curtains ... much less dry cleaned or laundered them! When they got dirty enough, I just replaced them with vinyl blinds. They were easy to clean -- I also found that the garden hose worked GREAT to remove dust and grime.  It was best if you took the blinds outdoors to do this, unless of course, you wanted to clean carpets at the same time!

Since I never opened my drapes, I only cleaned my windows the day I did my geographics and moved.  I never got fingerprints on the windows while living there, and the overhangs protected the windows from the outside elements, so why would one have to CLEAN them at all, unless moving?

I'd get surfacitis all the time and THINK my house was clean if I could SEE that nothing was out of place on the surfaces.  I was not clean inside and out. It was the underneaths I had a problem with.

Underneath the couch, underneath the cushions, underneath the 'fridge, underneath the bed, underneath the computer. Then there were the behinds.  Behind the furniture, behind the curtains, behind the linens, behind the washer and dryer, behind the dog dishes, behind my collection of plastic shopping bags on the bottom of the pantry closet.

I finally "hit bottom" when I got around to cleaning out the plastic shopping bags.  I had about 2 years worth collecting in my pantry. I couldn't get any more bags shoved into my closet. Try as I did, they just wouldn't budge.  I was afraid to throw them away.  I just knew there would be a need for them just as soon as I got rid of them.

I finally decided enough was enough.  I had "had it" with the clutter in my life. So I proceeded to make an attempt to free the bags from their wedge in the closet. I got out a lawn and leaf bag to throw them into.  I knew they'd expand just as soon as I started yanking them out of the closet. That's when I discovered IT and I was mortified...

How could it be?  Why hadn't I EVER noticed it before? I'm so ashamed!  I can hardly face you as I speak these words.

Right in the midst of all of the plastic bages, there was a whole bag of withered up potatoes!  It was so disgusting folks, I had no idea how long they had been there!  After I regained my senses ... I KNEW there had to be some major changes in my life.

Well, that's all behind me now.  The first step was to ADMIT  I had a problem. Then came the steps toward getting BETTER.  I signed up with my local FreeNet ... AzTeC and searched frantically for a housework challenged discussion group that I could call my "home" group.  I'm so thankful I have found HCH, somewhere to go where I am finally understood.  Where I'm accepted.  Where I can share with others who are just like me.

I'm here tonight ... by the grace of God ... to share my experience, strength and hope with you all.

You've heard some of my "experiences" tonight folks. I put all my "strength" in my higher power, which today is ANY one of you who makes me be accountable.  Keeps me in line.  Gives me suggestions. Encourages me when I'm slipping.  Offers shortcuts.  Shows me how to maintain any sort of decent, clean, neat and orderly semblance in my home.

My "hope" is that you all will help.