Eliza, Fetch Me My Slippers!!!

I feel like I am waking up from a dream - or is it a nightmare, I can't be quite sure. Coming here and browsing through some threads I feel like I was on some strange planet all these days and just woke up to find myself back home.

Well, ever since I have been caged inside my own house, not of my own volition, but that of the Power That 'Be's', life has taken on a strange turn. What's more, I have been caged in with the MIL and her son. Do I hear any sigh of sympathy emanating from anywhere?

The past decade has been spent with help (or should I say at the mercy of) a Lady Friday, her younger sister and a Lady Antoinette. I have been at their beck and call (no, not vice-versa) for fear that they might walk out on me. And then what would I do?

Enter Ms. Corona Le Virus. Too much of emotional and physical dependence on the three said ladies, she decided, was not good for my health. They had to be socially distanced. So it is that the day starts with watering the plants (unless their meal time is shifted to the evening), arranging for our own meal times (sometimes for two days at a time), teaching on line, preparing presentations to keep participants from getting into the hair of their near and dear ones for 3 hours at a time (while getting under the skin of my own, thanks to the fits of rage when some of them get under mine), attending endless online training and Q&A sessions on how to achieve the previous goal (teaching online I mean - there is no course to stay out of each other's hair), attending French classes (have still not discovered how exactly they deal with Ms. Corona Le Virus), washing vessels about 5 times a day, heating food, serving food, having no appetite to eat the products of my own culinary expertise ..... till I crash out to start the day again. The only bright spot on the horizon is that I don't have to iron clothes. Lovely to live in one's jammies, yes even when teaching! No one can see me, you see? No, not even myself.

How do I do all this? I wonder. My back is killing me. My knees punish me by not letting me sit down without shouting out loud enough for people to think I am being murdered. It is not easy to get out of bed with back stiff as a plank and a knee that will not bend. Don't ask about crouching in L-shaped corners trying to get stuff out of D-trays. No mean thanks to an enterprising pharmaceutical industry.

But long and short of it is ..... I am doing it. 45 days till now. Have survived. Ha! Bad news for the 3 ladies in question. Now it is their turn to toe the line. Thanks Ms. Corona. I feel like I have just been corona-ted, doing things I did 10 years ago, albeit with creaks from every joint. I sing ... "There will still be sunshine without you, We will still eat meals without you, And there still will be rain .... "

But wait! I suspect I am just beginning to feel like Prof. Higgins. Am waiting for the day when the 3 return and I can put up my feet and say "Where is my cup of coffee?"

 

Thanks Sabitha. Yes, it certainly made me realize that while they are not exactly indispensable, one can manage with them too. Yes, and they too need to realize how important their work is, take more pride in what they do and do it more professionally and well. Waiting for things to return to normal sooner than later. "Bumblees" - how I love that!

 

Dear Sir,

so good to hear from you. I loved that! They have actually counted the plates and tumblers! :-D And this is amazing. Robot sweeper cum mopper machines! Did not know that they had actually made their appearance in India! Sigh! Wish our apartment would think of that!

"middle class India ...". That is what I fear most. Change is the inevitable fact of life, but such drastic changes would be rather a shock to the system. Waiting for some sense of normalcy to prevail once again.

Thanks and regards,

 

That is very true, Syamala. What do we do with each other, what do we do without! However, this phase is positive for teaching us:
1. that we can survive without each other
2. that we are still valuable to each other - if not as individuals, at least as a class - employers and employees.
3. that both classes MUST value the work of the domestic help, cleaners and all blue collar workers. Their work is essential and fundamental to all others being able to do their own jobs.
4. that when they demand all the rights and privileges available in companies and govt jobs, they must also do their work as professionally.

Nature is a harsh teacher, but a very effective one.

 

Got it ready. Enjoy! Just had my morning cup of cold coffee.
I discovered Abhigyan only a few days ago. Am really impressed, but would like to disbelieve him - can't bear to think of another bad phase. We are not out of this one yet.