Spring is coming, and it’s finally time to dust off the old patio furniture and put it in the backyard! Your perennial flowers are about to bloom and the grass is showing how green it can be. Cherry blossoms turn pink throughout the garden and the snow crab makes the ground as white as fresh snow. Clean the gutters and spray the ceiling and think, “Maybe this year we’ll repaint the house?” and put it on your tremendous “To Do” list for the spring. Maybe you get it, maybe you don’t. After washing your house with the hose, you may decide that you don’t need it.
But looking back at the old yellow plastic patio furniture from the early 80’s, you wonder, “Did I like this when I bought it?” the formica table has a crack in the top near the umbrella hole that you actually remember happened four years ago when Uncle Marty tried to use the table as a prayer stand. It has been so long that there is dirt in the crack that it will not come off. Woven plastic chairs sag and metal spring joints are rusted and squeak when you sit on them. It actually looks very bad next to the rest of your fresh green garden and healthy flowering trees.
When you look at the playground, you think, “You know, I should throw this garbage in the trash.” It’s something you’ve been telling yourself for about 5 years, since your sister came over and pointed out that the table is almost beige on top but gold around the edges. “This year” you say to yourself, “This year I will finally do it!” and you didn’t even set up the umbrella this year. You call the trash service and let them know there will be large items to pick up this week, and you put them in the front yard with a “Free or Trash” sign attached to the side.
He stays until the garbage boy comes on Thursday.
Now, however, you are stuck without patio furniture. Not sure what you are looking for, you search online for new styles and ideas. What is out there now? All patio furniture now looks so pretty, so modern! You think, “Hm, maybe not the glass. Uncle Marty will want to stand on it, I’m sure,” but there are many attractive options. “I like the ones with the charcoal fire in the center of the table,” you reflect on not being able to stand in the fire, “The matching chairs are made with UV-protected and weather-resistant artificial wicker. the wicker would rot in the rain … “It looks comfortable. As if you could invite people over and they wouldn’t flinch to sit in the chair or absentmindedly try to dust the table before setting down a plate or resting their elbows on it. You know what you want, but you wait. “Maybe they have it at the local hardware store?” you think to yourself. Being especially proactive today, you get in your car and drive there.
When you get there, you find out that they have a lot of things, but not exactly the one you fell in love with online. Disappointed, he returns home. You also realize that your small, fuel-efficient vehicle might not be able to haul all of those things home today anyway.
So on the way home, he goes back to his computer and wakes her up with a good move of the mouse. The browser is still open to the backyard game of your dreams! You take the step and order it.
Two weeks later, your perfect patio set arrives. They called before delivering, so I could be home to receive it. All set, the patio set looks beautiful! Framed next to your trees and your perennials …
But then you remember, you also have to clean the INSIDE of the house!
