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No time limit on worries...
Kids may leave your house, they may even leave your city, but worrying about them never leaves ...
I was having a phone conversation with my oldest daughter who lives in an apartment in San Diego. During our conversation I kept hearing this whacking noise in the background, well after about the 20th whack my curiousity got the best of me and I asked, "What are you doing?' With a voice full of frustration she answered, "I'm killing termites Mom, they've taken over the air space in my bedroom."
Okay, yuck, yuck, yuck! I had to quickly stop and remind myself that termites are SMALL insects and not the size of pterodactyls and that they eat wood, not delightful young ladies. But the visual of those nasty varmits doing touch and go maneuvers on my daughter while she blissfully slept, kicked me right into "mom must fix it" mode. I told her she needed to cover the place of entry with duct tape and get to the home improvement store for a spray or some other do-it-yourself treatment. Well this advice only triggered a chance for her to vent her frustration about why the landlord wasn't taking care of it and an announcement that she was on the verge of calling the Board of Health. After a few deep breaths, she said her best defense was no defense and that she would worry about it when she returned from a three-day weekend away...
Well, I emailed her and she told me her houseguests were there waiting for her upon her return and that they either reproduced or invited friends over, but their stay was short lived...
Her boyfriend was closing off their path of entry and the pest control man was coming to spray a foam chemical treatment above her ceiling and in her walls. She assured me it would be okay, and closed with 'No worries Mom' ...
Yeah right, she doesn't know I'm already checking on those foam chemicals and making sure they aren't toxic ... you see, it never ends!
MaMaBird
The nest is empty and Mama Bird is ready to soar, okay maybe flutter about abit, but let's share ideas about those days when kids leave the house, but never leave the heart!
Comments
Let me tell you....when it comes to termites, I have become quite the expert! I had everything prepared to discuss the strategy plan to rid my apartment of those flying, filthy things. However, it seems I am still one step away from finally riding myself of them for good!
The bug guy came on Monday and squirt some shaving cream-like foam into a few holes I had noticed in my walls and/or floorboards. When I asked if he needed anything to stand on to reach into the ceiling...he laughed. Billy, that was his name, told me he would need to submitt a bid and get permission from the property managers to tear open the ceiling and investigate what wood beam he would need to treat. In the meantime, the plastic bags Chris placed with scotch tape over my vents would have to do to keep the lil buggers out.
My jaw dropped, and my heart sank. "You mean they're still going to be up there when you leave..." I pleaded with Billy, in the most whiny-like girl voice I could possibly muster. He apologized and said it was a good sign that the property managers had asked for a bid to look into the ceiling, and mentioned that they had also asked for a bid to tent and fumigate the whole place. I said ok, and thanked him, and sent him, and his stupid foam, away.
I have inherited my Mother's worrisome ways, and immediately thought the worst, and began to worry about how I was going to get rid of these things on my own, and how much money it would cost, and what action I would need to take with the property people, and who knew a lawyer so I could sue them for making me live with bugs! Then, my over-dramatic mind settled down for a bit, and I thought, "At least they aren't coming into my house anymore, and hopefully I'll be out of the building in a few days for a bit when the property managers decide to get rid of them once and for all and tent the whole place." Now, I have decided to wait till the end of the year to discuss some issues with my property managers, that I intend to make them change if I am to be living there next year.
I guess, in short, I decided there were some more important things that I should focus on...the bugs have not invaded my apt since I put the bags up....it's the end of summer so they should go away soon.....next time this year, I either will have it taken care of before, or I won't live here anymore.....all good points that I needed to think about. I started to worry then more about where I would have to move then, if that was the option I choose, but then I remembered a saying posted right next to me at my desk at work. A saying, sculpted in a little silver frame, actually given to me by my Mother, that I think her and I both should remember from time to time. "Worrying does not empty tomorrow of it's troubles, it empties today of it's strength."
I know she will read that, and say "yeah, right!" And you know what....so did I..... :)