Creative Nonfiction Prompt #29 || The thorough clean-up brought back memories again.

It was a full day of a thorough cleaning which I have always postponed until the day I was fully ready. Whenever I stare at my room, would give a soft sigh and check the calendar on my phone to see if there would be any good day to actually clean my room, following with a hysteric laugh because I know nothing will be done which I will definitely shift when the day arrives. I'd been seeing signs of cobwebs which I would use my broom to dust off while I kept thinking of the big day when I would pack everything outside for general cleaning.

Sincerely, the thought of bringing everything out was scary to me, even though I do this once in three months except for a skeletal cleaning weekly and consistent cleaning every day which involves sweeping and dusting off my kitchen cabinet, but it wasn't enough than having the whole day working my ass off.

I usually pick Saturdays for this kind of work as I use the week for blogging and giving myself a relaxed moment. The Saturday came in January this year as I woke up early with a heavy sigh and said "today is the day". I knew how tough the work would be for me, so, I never bothered eating anything because I would be tired along the way and I might eventually stop halfway and return things back to their usual stuff while extending the day to another convenient time. I don't like eating when working but would like to finish my task so that by the time I finish eating, I will take my full rest without the thought of any work pending. Not eating when working will make the task faster and quicker as I would be careful not to let hunger take over before being done with it all.

I started off by disorganizing everything in my daily racks. I have two racks: one is where I put my cream, body lotion, perfume, make-up items, tissues etc, while the second is for my books. I packed everything down while I cleaned both racks thoroughly by washing them with soap and water, and used a small cloth to dry them in order to take the stuff back while I move to the next phase. I'd removed everything this day when my eyes sighted a long and forgotten photo album. That took my time as I was eager to check through as it's been a long while since I have checked it. I left everything while I sat on the carpet, beaming with smiles knowing what I would be coming across.

Flipping the page to the first, my mom's picture appeared where she was dressed for a party with her friends. Memories took me to the past, remembering when she was dressing up for the party and how she had to meet her friends because she finished before them. I could remember she handed over the shop to me, saying to me to monitor it, and that I should make sure I sell a lot. As she left home, I took my bath and left for the shop too which was like twenty minutes trek to the place. It brought back those moments when Dad would sometimes be angry with her because of her constant attending parties and she would retort and say "If I don't attend people's parties, will they attend mine?" When both of them are arguing jokingly, the children including myself would be there as we would be laughing and enjoying the show. I really missed her!

As I flip more pages, I felt nostalgia when I saw a group photo of myself and my siblings and cousins where we gathered together in our hometown on Christmas day. We were so young then and more memories appeared in my head. How time flies, we have become so grown up while being on our own today. I laughed boisterously, stood to check myself in the mirror and saw the amazing and miraculous changes in myself. I remembered a particular time I was chased back especially by my cousin when they were leaving the house to meet their boyfriends, together with my older and younger sister, as they thought I was ugly and might make the guys run away and be embarrassed. I cried the whole evening and refused to join them when they were preparing dinner later that day, and even refused to eat until my mom came to beg me.

The cousin got married along the line and it was a moment to reminisce on how our relationship bonded in the past, and now, everything has changed. We only get to chat on the phone once in a while as we haven't seen each other for years after her wedding. The only people I have bonded with till now are my siblings and this is because they are my blood and I don't see any reason to be separated from them.

I continued flipping to more pages while tears were rolling out of my eyes as I remembered some who are dead and not with us. I reminisced back to the past and how the celebration was always interesting and fun with these people, but presently, it is not how it used to be, but we still get to enjoy the vibe in the little way we can. I remembered how things played out then and what happened and the cause of their departure. It got to a stage, I forgot completely what I was doing and as soon as I came back to reality, I stood up to continue what I was doing while making sure I kept in mind the beautiful days and not the sad ones because what is gone is gone and can never return again.

Thanks for your time on my blog.