OPINION
PAGE 10 with DeeDee Davis
Warmer weather brings on the craving for the inevitable spring-cleaning, which means a whole lot more this year than rearranging a closet. Covid, Hurricane Sally and the bridge nightmare added a whole new layer to the desire to refresh. Nothing seems too terribly conclusive yet, and I, like so many others, am desperate for order. Spring is the season of all things fresh, a new start, new opportunities and a new chance to be better in every way. I am trying to stay optimistic that the bridge will really open safely by the end of March. But every time I round the curve on the interstate where I have a full view of all three miles, I can’t stop the wave of distrust that overwhelms me. The temperatures may still be chilly, but it is the perfect time to make your plan for your own personal overhaul, bridge or not. Cleaning and organizing always makes me feel better, and with a boat dock still not finished, an office I still can’t move back into, a garden full of dead plants due to one measly freeze and Covid still rampant, I have plenty of work to do. I like to categorize the process with my home and yard topping the list as the most obvious targets of improvement. But my office, my car and certainly my body all need appropriate attention as well. Since the body requires more time for noticeable gains, unlike color coding your skirts or alphabetizing your spices, I suggest this is where you start with your plan. Weight loss is only a part of healthy living, and it sometimes takes far more than a calendar year to achieve much needed progress in this department. It is interesting that despite Covid, gyms have done much better than anyone expected. More than ever, people understand the importance of fitness. There are plenty of exceptions, but overwhelmingly deaths from Covid have been related to underlying causes, particularly obesity. Physicians are the pros, but no one knows your body better than you. During so much social distancing, I have still maintained fairly regular contact with Lorenzo, our trainer. Fitness training has been a process and has involved strong language (from me), commitment, and a trainer who stays on top of new information and customizes workouts to meet the needs of his clients. There are plenty of days when it is
10 Pensacola Magazine
Without events to attend, it’s amazing how much stuff I have that has become unimportant.
pure agony to get out of bed early and haul my sorry self into that torture chamber. And he is always so cheerful even when I snarl at him or try to make up reasons to avoid a particularly grueling exercise. It’s not easy, but you will get results and without prescription drugs. Maybe you already feel in your best condition. Whatever improvements you desire, write down a road map of what you plan to do about it. I find it helpful after working on something as major as health or a new haircut to move on to something readily attainable. The second part of my plan is to show the love to my car, if I ever get it back. Yes, mine suffered the fate so many have during the long trek through Garcon. A careless driver rammed the front end and I have been driving a rental for what feels like almost as long as I have been out of my office due to Sally damage. I normally like to wash my own car but I rarely do things like polish the inside, vacuum the trunk or spit shine the tires. In the month of March, assuming I get it back, I am going to spend an entire Saturday doing all of the above as well as clean the floor mats and reorganize the console and glove box that holds no gloves. Oh yes. I will be riding in style. At least until it rains. Part two will be easy to accomplish but the satisfaction is great. So on to Part three—my home. Everyone has a project begging to happen. New carpet? Clean out the pantry or the attic? Label all of the boxes of Christmas decorations so you aren’t fumbling for the right pieces next holiday season? Write down the tasks and put a timeline on them? When I refold everything in every drawer, I feel as if it is a new house. No one else can see the results, but I can. It’s visibly rewarding and the organization cuts time from planning as you dress for any occasion.
Part four is my favorite part. I love getting into the dirt and planting new stuff. I am a regular at Lowe’s on Saturday mornings almost year round. But come spring when the colors hit the tables and shelves, I am a complete sucker for all of it. I have made enough mistakes over the years that I finally can be a little more discerning about what will actually survive a summer here. It is one of the joys of my life to plant and maintain a garden of flowers, herbs and vegetables. They never talk back or whine or complain about the news and when they thrive, all the world is good and beautiful. With no hard freezes the last two years, everything has been so healthy. And then came the winter freeze that blanketed the nation. Goodbye flowers. Hello Lowes. A big part of my universe is work, so the office must have the proper feng shui. I have been told it is not necessary to have colorful folders with matching paper clips, but I wouldn’t have it any other way, though this year I will store more files electronically. Our office took a major hit during the hurricane and repairs are not yet complete. But, we have a target date so I am amping up on purging the files and getting ready to organize my new desk. Heaven! I know what you are thinking at this point— she has more problems than a crashed car. Yes, spring cleaning this year will be like no other. But vaccines, bridges and warm weather can make anything better. Happy Spring! MARCH BIRTHDAYS 22 23 23 25 26
Dax Noonan Hurst Butts Teri Levin Benjamin Nettles Will Bazemore, who turns 90!!!!
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Ballinger Publishing.