Friends and Family in the House

It really doesn’t take a lot to please my husband and me.  We are absolutely over the moon about our new garbage can, with its sleek narrow design, and its foot-operated lid and the way that the lid slowly closes itself without slamming.  Its fits perfectly by the end of the counter in the kitchen, and I still haven’t used it without stopping and watching in admiration as the lid gently floats  down to meet its can.

Just across the way in our kitchen sink lives our new faucet AND a new trash disposal, which came to us all on the same day. It was almost too much excitement to bear.  Mind you, we didn’t rush frivolously to this transformation.  In fact, we had been talking about the fact that we might replace our faucet “someday” from the day we moved into the house two and a half years ago, and had recently purchased one at our local hardware store to be installed “someday.” It more recently became apparent that perhaps the trash disposal might be having some health issues, and it too went on the “someday” replacement list.

“Someday” came when the trash disposal sprung a leak.  The time for action was NOW, or possibly yesterday, but at any rate we called the plumber.

So let me tell you about the new faucet.  It has a spray feature that enables you to actually rinse off a dish effectively.  Oh, how I had missed this feature in the old faucet!  Sometimes I just rinse something off now to enjoy my new found power.  And the trash disposal?  Quiet as a whisper.  The first time I used it I wondered if it was working, but it was – just quietly.

Over in the bathroom, we have a snazzy new toilet paper holder that holds extra toilet paper rolls so one is never caught unprepared.  There was one like it at my chiropractor’s office that caught my fancy, and I was unbelievably happy when I found one to purchase.

But it’s not all been about garbage and other waste.  No, the pieces de resistance are in the living room.  We have new Mission-style end tables that sit beautifully at either end of our much-loved love seat.   We chose and purchased these ourselves, and they actually– wait for it-  match.  Grandma’s end table has moved to the loft, and the small table that sat at the other end of the love seat has moved to the dining room where such tables belong.

Yesterday, we held our annual Open House for our local family and friends, who really couldn’t care less about these niceties.  If we throw the party, they will come.  At least a handful attend specifically for the candied bacon or the spinach pie (hey, we take them anyway we can get them), but we know that all come, in part at least, because they like us.  Some come bearing food to add to the bounty or plants or wine.   At least one friend who is an antique dealer who usually brings furnishings for the house – always something that would go perfectly in one of our rooms.
  

Sometimes, our friendly local policemen drop by to remind us about the on-street parking regulations, and the consequences for ignoring them.  Really, the officer who came by this year couldn’t have been nicer about it – we had a very nice chat.  Our guests were real sports about moving their cars to the Clubhouse parking lot, and I couldn’t help but feel a little self-satisfied that even at my advanced age I can throw a party that brings out the police.

In years past, our guests used the faucet that stuck, and put garbage in the substandard garbage can and were happy to set their glasses on the mismatched tables in the living room or forage around for another roll of toilet paper.  This year they admired our new possessions with heartfelt appreciation and happiness for us.

Mostly they bring their wonderful selves to the party.  These are the people we are so lucky to have in our lives, for one day filling our home with hearty conversation, and laughter and love.  To a one, they’re even better to have around than a fancy new garbage can.