Creating Convenience

Years ago I read Good Morning Merry Sunshine, by Chicago Tribune columnist Bob Greene. It was a journal of their daughter’s first year of life. I loved the book and thought it was a “should read” for every first-time father. Greene described himself as fastidious in both his dress and housekeeping. The coffee table (pre-baby) was always spotless—a flower arrangement and three magazines fanned out at 2” intervals. After the baby, the coffee table was a mass of diapers, nursing pads, pacifiers, burp cloths, Desitin, water glasses, and baby magazines. His suits regularly had spit-up on the shoulder and his ties had wiped everything from runny noses to bottoms. And he hardly even noticed.

I certainly would not use the word “fastidious” to describe myself, but I do like clean surfaces and my night stand would normally have a lamp, a clock radio, a phone and a reading book. We’ve rearranged a few things for convenience sake. And yes, we’re still noticing it!