Saturday was Jeff and Jen's 11th Anniversary, but Jeff was playing guitar at church so they couldn't celebrate until today. So they dropped the girls off with us at lunch at Azteca, and then went off to celebrate. We had the girls until about 3:30, and then Jan and I headed out for our end-of-the-year choir party. Jan decided that both of our cars were greatly in need of a wash (the word she used was "filthy"), and my math brain realized I could save $40 by doing them myself. She then enlisted the girls to help, they being young enough to still believe washing cars is fun.
(The picture to the left is a reenactment using a standin grandchild. No labor laws were violated while filming.)
Jolie helped with my car. She soaped everything below window level, and I had the high parts. Drying held the same responsibilities. Jeslyn came in at this point and the only job left was to wash the rims. It was obvious that this job was beneath her. So then we started on grandma's car. Jolie took the port side below the windows, Jeslyn the starboard. The main topic of conversation during this time was their criticism of mama birds for failing to potty train their children. When we finished, they came to 3 conclusions why the "old-fashioned" method of washing cars is superior to a professional carwash: 1) This way is much more fun 2) This way is free (definitely grampa's girls) 3) This way is quieter.
Grandma was suitably impressed with our work, finding fault only with the top of her car--which of course was my responsibility. Jolie then proceeded to wipe down the stair rails to our back door (definitely daddy's girl), and wanted other fun stuff to do. I showed her how to use the dustbuster to vacuum the inside of my car, feeling more like Tom Sawyer with each passing moment. So, paying to have your car washed in the OC: $20. Washing it yourself with the help of your grandchildren--a priceless preview of retirement.
Grandma was suitably impressed with our work, finding fault only with the top of her car--which of course was my responsibility. Jolie then proceeded to wipe down the stair rails to our back door (definitely daddy's girl), and wanted other fun stuff to do. I showed her how to use the dustbuster to vacuum the inside of my car, feeling more like Tom Sawyer with each passing moment. So, paying to have your car washed in the OC: $20. Washing it yourself with the help of your grandchildren--a priceless preview of retirement.
One final note. When it comes to debate over the holiest form of washing cars, I am definitely an advocate of sprinkling over immersion.
No comments:
Post a Comment