I Am Thankful for a Clean Kitchen
It started with the pantry but before the afternoon was over the entire kitchen was spotless. What a wonderful feeling!
As I mentioned yesterday our neighborhood pledged to clean out the pantries today. The sound of steady rain drops outside made it easy to stay in and do some cleaning. I was amazed at how many cans I had that I didn’t even know were in the pantry and on the shelves.
I have always prided myself on being “somewhat” organized, but I was shocked at the number of duplicate cans of vegetables and other products. What happened over time was that I filled up the pantry and then apparently I decided to begin putting new products on the shelves in the kitchen. Well, my pantry looked like a mini-market. I have no idea what I thought I was going to do with some of the stuff.
Let’s face it, we have a freezer full of vegetables that we “put up” during the end of the summer harvest season. Please tell me why I had cans of beans and other vegetables. They must have been on sale or something. Or, maybe I’m becoming one of those old people who hoard cans of food as if I may find myself in a starvation mode one day. I was almost embarrassed at the number of cans I removed from my shelves.
Maggie popped in for a break and a cup of coffee. Happy soon followed. The get together, although impromptu, sounded like a confession of sorts. By the time, Maggie and Happy dropped by each of us had a garbage bag full of cans. Imagine that! We had to call some of the neighborhood teenagers to carry the goods to Happy’s garage.
As the rain fell, we began stacking the cans in the bed of J.D.’s pickup truck. Who would have believed that just six families could fill one truck! Of course, we will admit that not all families had so much to donate. Everyone in the neighborhood didn’t have so much. Families with kids seem to go through the food products much faster than some of us who have only AARP-ers to feed. But, every family has cans to donate.
I guess I am always amazed at the good feelings that come from putting forth the effort to do something for someone. Sometimes it is really hard to get started, but the effort pays off.
Anyway, now that I have cleaned out the pantry and the shelves, Jason and Amber… I think she is his “new” girlfriend, although he hasn’t said so yet… anyway, they decided to clean my kitchen. So, right now they are scrubbing the cabinets inside and out and using the stepladder to reach those areas I all too often ignore.
Well, this has been a great day. The neighborhood is putting together food for those who need it and I am getting a spotless kitchen. Let it rain, let it rain, let it ran!
