First thing this morning Rose made sure that she did her stretches and abs exercises. She was not a jogger or a runner but she was prepared to stretch and jump around a bit if that was going to give her some results. The sooner she could see the results the better for her frail motivation.
Another way she motivated herself was to look at photos of herself from her teenage years. She was a bit overweight at one stage. Not by much but it took her a lot of determination to get back into shape. And time. And effort. Rose now believed that it’s worth making the effort to keep in shape. That’s what pushed her to stick to an exercise routine.
After the exercises she usually had a shower and did her makeup. Coffee’s turn came next after she was fully dressed. If she had some cleaning planned around the house then she did that after her morning exercises and before her shower. She tried to do a few chores every day.
That sounds really like someone pretty much domesticated but this really would not do justice to Rose’s character. She saw herself more like a vivacious, unpredictable, impulsive, fun-to-be with sort of woman. Dependable at times, yes, and reliable most of the times but not a follower type of person, if you know what I mean. She liked to have an angle on things and sometimes she could be a bit too curious for her own good. Or that’s what others had told her.
Now that characteristic, I guess would drive a husband nuts and an employment agency would consider one unsuitable to be in their books. Perfect, however for living with oneself.
Today Rose managed to clean the shower and the bathroom. Once a week they got her full attention. Today she cleaned the floor with something that smelled like freshly cut grass and washed the bathroom rag and towels with a scent of freshly cut Christmas tree. You remember that absolutely fantastic smell? Now the one she was using was artificial but it was wonderful all the same.
Rose had always aspired to lead a reasonable fashionable life and by that she didn't mean anything drastic like the latest shoes or hand bags or hair color. For her, fashionable meant more like wearing things that do not smell of mold or old and that fit her. Clothes the she felt gave her an advantage. What’s the point of spending the money otherwise, she reminds herself. That helps sometimes to cut down on impulsive buying.
Rose tried to avoid clutter and hoarding even those things that she liked very much. After a while things just start to smell old and the water can’t remove that. She thought that it must have been her grandma who pointed that one to her one day. And she was right.
Today Rose put on her soft semi-sheer bra under a red short-sleeve lace trimmed tee and chose to wear black jeans with comfortable shoes with a wedge heel. Her grandma would probably disagree with the pants especially that she was expecting a male visit today. But then, Rose knew James, and she recalled how excited he could become with or without help from clothes.
But grandma would agree with her if she knew like her that he didn’t not appear to be marriage material. Not that Rose was particularly focused on that issue but hey, after all, she was just a girl and brought up to think in those terms. After her breakfast today, she was planning to finish checking the 500 item list and perhaps de clutter her bedroom.
She expected James to turn up only late in the afternoon, like some people usually do. You know dinner time or party time so that you have time to clean up your house. Very thoughtful guys!
The doorbell rang while Rose was leafing through a bridge book and having her second cup of coffee for the day. It was her neighbor Corinne Webb. She is just a bit older than Rose, had a full family life. Somewhere she also found time and energy to invest in Rubber Bridge. She was the one who enlisted Rose at the local bridge club and likes to stir up the clubs’ social life. She was coming to remind Rose about the meeting at the club that night.
The club was open 7 days a week to those interested and provided lessons for the new beginners but most of people met there only once per week. Some of the players met regularly for a game at each other’s houses or in rented places like the week before.
Rose had been associated with the club for only 5 months but she had been accepted as a valuable member and invited to all their meetings. With Corinne, now a friend, behind her back Rose had been more active than any other time. Corinne was also her regular game partner and Rose benefits from her wisdom and knowledge of game.
‘I really hope, Rose, that one day you make that call and bring BLITZ cleaners here. Your house is overdue for good sweep…’ she said walking into Rose’s living room.
‘How do you know that I have not yet done that Corinne? ’ Rose said to her with faked surprise as she knew it was Corinne’s favorite subject.
‘Ha, have you looked at your windows recently? ’ Corinne said with a wink.
‘Ok, maybe not, ’ Rose admitted. ‘But here, look around you. It’s pretty good, ’ she said proud of herself.
‘Well, a well-trained housekeeper would have made sure you have some fresh cut flowers and your floor could do with a bit of polish, ’ Corinne sighted refusing to budge.
‘A squeaky-clean feeling missing in my house, huh? ’ Rose said pretending to feel offended. She raised her eyebrows and shook her head but Corinne was on a mission.
‘And maybe the scattered pillows need to be replaced and your window curtains need updating, ’ Corinne finished her appraisal of Rose’s room and settled comfortably in a chair. Maybe she stopped because she needed to breath, Rose thought smiling to herself.
‘Wow, charming!’ Rose said. ‘You’ve started to worry me to death. Here I was content, enjoying the mystery, warmth and quirkiness of this old house that you want me to demolish. It’s like interfering with fate, ’ Rose continued, stretching the issue a bit.
‘You asked me, ’ Corinne said shrugging her shoulder. ‘Pull your head in, ’ she added. ‘This house has potential, ’ then she added laughing ‘To give you holiday blues or a little taste of heaven. ’ Rose snatched a peek around the room then looked at her friend and they both burst into hysterical laughter.
‘Design magic? I thought that it was a privilege for the rich, ’ Rose said to her friend with a twinkle in her eyes.
‘Stop acting like that, ’ Corinne said. ’And you know that I know what I’m talking about, ’ she added confidently. Well, that was indeed true. She was an established and in very high demand interior decorator or stylist or whatever the politically correct word was for it in this part of the world. And she wasn’t charging Rose for advice. A hard-working woman, family oriented not a career pusher. The two of them gravitated towards each other after accidently meeting one another in the library. They were both searching the books and magazines in the design area.
‘I don’t have money for that, ’ Rose had said aloud, at the time looking at a particularly charmingly renovated kitchen. Then she caught Corinne's eyes on her and they both laughed like today.
‘I am happy to hire you, ’ Corinne rapidly said echoing their first encounter.
‘Aha, again to the point, ’ Rose laughed. It was not the first time that Corinne was offering to help. ‘I don’t even have a house Corinne, ’ Rose said.
‘Well, I am pretty sure that in a couple of months you’ll have at least this one. Is it the 2nd of January the final day? ’ she asked.
‘Yes, ’ Rose said.
‘No one challenging the will so far? ’ Corinne added.
‘No, ’ Rose said.
‘What? No energy, girl? ’ Corinne laughed.
‘No shortage of that in this youthful bone house, ’ Rose replied with a smirk.
‘Ha, ha, I’ll get right to the subject. I came to share with you my good news, ’ Corinne said beaming with excitement.
‘Let me guess. A new idea for renovations at home? ’ Rose said.
‘Better, much, much better, ’ Corinne erupted with joy. Rose scratched her head confused. She could not believe her ears. There was nothing that she knew could give her friend so much excitement.
‘Are you expecting? ’
Rose said in a wee voice as she recalled her sister getting very excited about that event.
‘No silly. I have enough kids already. I don’t have plans for a football team, ’ Corinne replied.
‘You won the lottery, ’ Rose asked hoping to be taken out of her misery.
‘A bit lower than that, ’ Corinne said, now more composed. ‘I have just received a new contract. Industrial design. A huge contract. Lots of money. Of course, involves lots of work but I am all for it, ’ Corinne said.
‘Congratulations!’ Rose said. ‘That sounds fun, ’ she added a bit reluctantly to her kind, honest and dependable friend. ‘You do know that there is more to life than just work? ’ Rose said trying not to interfere with fate.
‘I hear you Rose but believe me it’s good news, ’ Corinne said. ‘I feel like I’m bursting with ideas. I want to be able to experiment with the new trends in home technology and I’ll be paid for that, ’ she said with open satisfaction.
‘Aha. You are hoping to get the opportunity to create a little heaven for others, ’ Rose said fondly. ‘What about that new smart fridge that you just installed at your place? ’ she asked with interest as she had been contemplating buying one for herself.
‘Oh, that’s just a small thing and I had to pay for it with my money, ’ Corinne added.
‘How is that going? ’ Rose asked.
‘I recommended it. You’ll have to