Column Judith Witte: That shuts the door

They’re in the kitchen, deep in conversation about some video game. My son, 19, is leaning against the counter, eating steaming pasta from a bowl. My daughter, 22, is meanwhile peering into the fridge. The contents are so much more extensive and varied than what she has in her student house that it must make her head spin. “Close the door!” I call from the sidelines.

My son skilfully slams the still-open microwave door shut, all while talking and eating. She grips the fridge door firmly with her right hand, while with her left she gives a cabinet door that was still open a good whack. She keeps staring into the fridge. Too slow for my liking, she finally makes a decision. Butter… A carton of milk… oh right… cheese. And well; some cold cuts. At last, the fridge door closes too. Now the freezer. With a grinding sound, she pries open the drawer where the bread is hidden. I decide not to wait until she’s made up her mind between white, whole wheat, and/or muesli bread, I turn around and walk to the coat rack. Because all winter long, a thick pile of coats and scarves has been bulging half a meter into the hallway. I’ve had enough of it. With the sunny days and warm temperatures in the penultimate week of March, I’m itching to haul that entire heap up to the attic.

The attic is, how shall I put it politely… a complete shithole. During the bathroom renovation, some wiring had to be installed. Quite a few things were quickly and roughly shoved aside and stuffed away elsewhere, more or less at random. After that, the door was closed. The sight of the chaos makes me break out in a sweat. Where do I even start? But I’ve got spring fever, so I get to work with determination. On a whim, I decide to channel my spring-cleaning frenzy and rid ourselves of years of accumulated clutter. After a morning of hard work, the attic looks spotless. My stomach is growling.

In the kitchen, I find nothing but a few crumbs on the counter. Pleased, I note that everything has been neatly tidied up. Dishes in the dishwasher. All cabinet doors closed. I quickly grab butter and cheese, but when I reach for the bread in the freezer, my good mood takes a hit. The drawer is completely stuck. ‘Why does everyone always leave that door open for so long?’ I mutter under my breath. Ice shards that break loose as I try to open it spray all around me. I sigh. This can’t go on any longer. It wastes energy. Mine included. But does this have to be dealt with right now? The sun is shining outside.

On the radio, the newsreader says it’s going to get much colder in the coming days. We’re in for hail and wet snow. Apparently, my spring vibes need to go back in the fridge. I’ll defrost the freezer when the temperature outside drops to around freezing temperature. Maybe I should bring those winter coats back down too.

Judith Witte
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