I'm up here in Chicago with Ozzie the Wonder Dog for a week to begin painting and repairing my parent's house.I actually forgot it was Memorial Day weekend because my birthday is next week and usually Memorial Day is after my birthday..... rarely before.
I've been up to my elbows in pink joint compound....spackle....blue painter's masking tape and assorted brushes and rollers.
The real estate agent told me to remove the outdated wall paper in the foyer and I did.....however....I was left with an untextured old pitted wall that is part plaster...and part HELL.
It took less than an hour to tear the glittery wallpaper off....but it's taken two days to prep the wall.....filling up 25 nail holes that held family pictures....texturizing .....and discovering plaster molding is delicate and touchy and should only be handled by professionals....which, of course, I am not.
Every hour I cursed at my status.....because I am a woman who knows how to Spackle and paint and prep a wall.
Sometimes I wish I was some delicate little thing who runs off to Pilate's class and never ever scraps paint and joint compound from under her fingernails.
Unfortunately, my dad....my sweet dad....taught me all these skills....and sometimes when I'm working I talk to him......
"Shit dad....did you tell me your crown molding was plaster?"
"Geez dad, why did you leave that big lump of joint compound in the corner? Was there a crack under there?"
and of course, the heart-felt....."Dad, I wish you were here."
I use his tools....his paintbrushes...his ladders... and after an unfortunate accident with some paint....I even grabbed a pair of his shorts to wear while working.
I'm okay during the day.....when the wall is Hell and I need to focus on it....but at night....when I'm too stiff and tired to work any more.....the quiet house....the absence of my parents....is Hell.
Through it all....Ozzie....waits for crumbs and treats and chances to go outside and poke his nose through the slates of the fence looking for the yippy Russel Terrier who lives behind us.
I drink a big glass of wine....hope I will get sleepy.....and wait for dawn....so I can concentrate on the wall.....instead of everything else.
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