As much as God knows that I don't enjoy doing chores, they've got to be done to maintain my environment clean. Washing the dishes and throwing out the garbage has been a hassle for me because my hands hurt while I'm doing it. Early onset arthritis, I presume.
My mom and dad used to wash the dishes more than me and I was grateful for that. My mom genuinely seemed to enjoy washing dishes before she would make another pot of coffee around 2PM. That went to hell once my dad passed away. She has had no desire to wash dishes nor make another pot of coffee. It all rests on me.
I've found myself thinking of my dad when I'm washing the dishes, and I think, "If only you were here, I wouldn't be doing this right now, but you're not here and here I am." Then I get sad and cry, so I try to listen to music, watch the news or a Spanish soap opera while I'm at it. It keeps my mind distracted and at ease. I've also thought, "I hate doing this. I don't want to do this," but I continue to do it and once I'm done, I'm happy.
Taking out the garbage is a nuisance because my dad and his friends used to be in charge of that. I'm the one taking out the garbage from the two floors, which reminds me there's garbage on the first floor I have to take out today. It's just been sitting there for the past month or so. That means I don't have to throw out my dad's clothes today. Good because I'm tired, I'm cold and my right knee is acting up and the bottom of my right foot is in pain.
I have to place the garbage bags in a bin, which has to be put outside of my house after 6PM for the sanitation department to collect the next morning, and the bin need to taken back into the house before 7AM. If I take the bin back after 7AM, I'll find items discarded, by people going to work, in my trash bin. No, they're not allowed to put their public garbage in my private bin.
God knows I loathe doing laundry, but luckily, I don't have to go outside anymore. We have my late grandmother's washing machine and new dryer (my dad bought before he passed away) at home. I'll gladly put the clothes in the washing machine, walk away and come back an hour later to place them in the dryer. When the clothes come out warm and smelling fresh and clean, I smile. That right there is the best feeling.
When it comes to sweeping and mopping, I get stomach aches just performing those duties and have regurgitated what I ate various times, so I have to make sure I have an empty stomach beforehand.
As much as it's been a chore just to complete my chores, I'm actually relieved once the dishes are clean and the garbage is collected. Also, I'm grateful that my clothes, sheets and house smell good.
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