UMBRELLAS AND MUFFLERS! #BLOGCHATTERA2ZCHALLENGE
“What goes up when the rain comes down?”
“An umbrella, of course!” I don’t think Zo and Sam have
heard that one for it is such an old, hackneyed riddle, as old as me.
The umbrellas are out, and the woollens that have been
kept in hibernation have been shaken out of their slumber. Two rainy days have
chased the sun away here in Johannesburg, and I have not been able to take my
hands off my hot cup of green tea.
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G, my better half, has been listening to various weather forecasters, all of whom have spoken of the cold front that is expected to last for a couple of days. “After that, the sun will be out and it will get warmer,” he remarks, his voice brimming with confidence. Shivering in my three layers, I hope against hope that he is right!
Since the morning is nippy, but not rainy, G and I decide
to walk down to the opposite mall to Checkers, the closest supermarket. We miss
the little ones who used to amble along with us during the holidays. P tells us
that if it does drizzle, she will pick us up in the car.
I wear two sweaters, two pairs of socks and a scarf,
feeling akin to an Eskimo. By the time we get to Checkers, my nose, ears and
hands are chilled. Before our shopping is done, P is there. “There is a drizzle,”
she explains, but when we are on our way out, we can hardly feel it, so well clad are we.
We end up buying a few more things, since the car is there, anyway.
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Johannesburg looks beautiful when the clouds turn grey,
bunched up like cotton wool, casting a pall around. The trees are already wondering
if they should shed their foliage. At one moment, the sun shines through the
branches, like a sparkly eye in the sky; actually, more like the torchlight on
a mobile phone. A less romantic image, but more apt!
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The one issue about the rains is that clothes do not dry.
We place them outside at one elusive glimpse of sunshine, and then the rain
comes down and soaks everything all over again. On top of that, we have two
dogs who jump at the clothesline, and make off with the underwear.
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I have found the ideal solution to staying warm though
winter; washing dishes in hot soapy water. It is absolute bliss to allow the
heat to seep onto your palms, and the bonus is that the dishes get done as
well.
“Mama, you will make me get up and do the dishes early in
the morning!” (Emotional blackmail!)
“Can you please stop making me feel guilty?” (Genuine frustration!)
“I will have to lock the kitchen door!” (Except that
there is no kitchen door!)
The latest trial was using the dishwasher that had apparently
been installed a year ago. P was insistent that there was a problem with it.
All of us rallied around V and placed a whole load of dishes inside it. It
worked beautifully with the dishes coming out, bright and sparkly. We were overjoyed,
all except P who expected the worst.
The leak began immediately after the dishes were removed.
Three times, there was a deluge, and three times P mopped the floor, her
expression priceless. It said, “I told you so!”
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The way you described the simple yet profound moments shared between the mother and daughter truly resonated with me. It reminded me of the times when my own mother would insist I carry an umbrella, even when the sky was clear, just because "you never know." Your portrayal of the muffler as not just a piece of clothing but a symbol of warmth, care, and memories was beautifully done. I could almost feel the texture of the fabric and the emotions it carried. It's amazing how everyday objects can hold so much sentimental value. Your storytelling brought back a flood of memories and made me appreciate those small gestures of love that often go unnoticed.
ReplyDeleteThis was such a cozy, chuckle-filled slice of life! The bit about the dogs making off with the underwear had me grinning. Love how you blend humor with the daily rhythm of rainy days. “At one moment, the sun shines through the branches, like a sparkly eye in the sky; actually, more like the torchlight on a mobile phone.” That shift from poetic to practical is so relatable — and charmingly funny!
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