Family, Food, Founding Fathers, and a Housekeeper

Washington’s Quarters, Valley Forge Winter Encampment

If you’ve been around these here parts very long, you know how…well…disheveledmy office is.

I am six months behind on my paperwork, and neither my floors nor my furniture have been tended to in weeks.

On our last road trip, I was among a few who were drooling over another couple’s glowing testimonial for their housekeeper.

I labored for two weeks before I finally called her.

The biggest excuse/worry/putter-offer was We can’t afford a housekeeper.

I can’t afford not to hire someone to help me, I finally realized.

I met with the woman on Tuesday and snatched up the only opening she had.

Twenty-five dollars a week sounds so much better than one-hundred bucks a month.

I can make that happen and make myself very happy in the process.

Honestly, once I made the decision, all of that guilt chatter left my head.

I can’t afford to pay her to do all of our household chores, but what she will be doing definitely gives me peace of mind and more time to follow my passion, more time to devote to that which I believe to be my truest calling.

My work with The Five Facets.

And then, look at this little jewel of wisdom that I found today, Journeyers.

George Washington, one of the Founding Fathers who gave us independence, has also granted us freedom from the same.

Do you see that, Friends?

George Washington himself acknowledged how much time writers invest in their craft, and how such dedication draws us away from other, less critical matters.

And honestly, I consider words to be so much more pressing and so much more valuable than housework.

He’s giving us permission—all of us who want to—to enlist the help of others.

We can all take off our capes and remove those scarlet “S”s of Superness and Shame from our chests!

I’m with you, George.

Writing and correspondence is hard work that requires much of our attention.

We can all use someone to take charge of certain responsibilities, like dusting and windows.

The timing of my Cleaning Commander’s first day on the job couldn’t be any better, just in time for us to return from our family vacationing.

We’re spending the first four days of our trip at a family reunion in Philadelphia.

My mother and her sister flew out from the west coast for this three day event.

After a daylong bus tour, we walked downtown to one of the most magnificent restaurants you can imagine.

A little Irish Pub called The Plough and the Stars.

Journeyers, if you travel, or if you’re in the Philadelphia area, Go.

It won’t disappoint.

Eight people.

Seven different meals.

“That’s the best I’ve ever had,” said my well-traveled, eighty-one-year-old aunt about the Guinness casserole.

I was a little worried about the ginger in this seafood fettuccini, but let me tell you I am so glad it didn’t deter me, for the sauce was a perfect, creamy blend of divine cuisine.

Before I share the rest of the photos with you, let me just say that I wasn’t given any sort of compensation for the inclusion of this restaurant in this piece (but now that I say that, my brain is churning about future possibilities…)

I am writing about this sixteen-year-old establishment simply because the people and the place created an overall experience that was just exquisite, and moved me to do so.

My mother’s second cousin (does that make her my second cousin once removed?) thought this tuna loin was extraordinary.