Monday, February 01, 2010

Love Is . . . a Soapy, Wet Garage

It's sad. I know that somewhere out there are lands where the cars are clean and shiny and beautiful but here? This is more typical. Sure there are people who actually do go out and get their cars washed but within a week you'd never be able to tell who has washed their car since August and who has not.

Usually I'm someone who has to have everything neat and clean, it drives me crazy to have the kids leave their empty sandwich bags and used napkins, pencil stubs and candy wrappers in my car and even worse to have them brush up against the dirty car every time they go through the garage--I hate having it so dirty--and Andrew knows this.

So for Christmas I got an envelope from my husband who said that his gift to me would be to wash my car. However, since we couldn't shell out eight dollars at the car wash he said he had his own "special" way he would get the job done.

Intrigued, I wandered down to the garage to watch him as he hooked up the garden hose to the indoor utility sink, filled up a five gallon bucket with soapy water and began to scrub my car down, right there in the garage. Forget the fancy pre-soak, it was fast and furious as he scrubbed and cleaned until the whole minivan was one big soapy bubble then he had me back the car out into the driveway while he hosed the whole thing off lightning fast. First one side, then I backed out and repositioned for him to get the other side as his teeth chattered.

The steam rose all over as the hot water hit the frozen driveway and the cold air. Even though we only had the car out there for thirty seconds we still managed to see a few neighbors drive past who slowed down to stare at the crazies washing their car in 10 degrees. They knew we were odd before but now they were certain we were certifiable.

It went so well I told him I'd help him with his car and we repeated the whole thing and by the time we were done our driveway was one huge sheet of glacial ice. But . . . we'd saved sixteen dollars and had two clean cars (for at least a week).

Funny thing is it was kind of fun to do something so odd together. And what else are you going to do when a man goes to such great lengths to give you a clean car and a sign of his affections? Cover him in kisses, that's what. It's a mark of true love I tell you when a man volunteers to wash your car in snow and ice--and though I'm joking here I'm serious when I say that it's really the little things that keep you going after so many years of marriage and so many ins and outs.

He's definitely a keeper.

Sponsored by Dimples and Dandelions

25 comments:

Peruby said...

You got that right! Spot on! Anyone who would do that for somebody IS exceptional. Kudos!

Patricia L said...

So true. When my husband does so much as set the table for dinner or give the boys a bath, I fall just a little more in love with him. It really is the little things that matter most some times.

Flea said...

Definitely a keeper. :) You have a good man.

Suzi Dow said...

Doing crazy things together is what has kept Fred and I going for decades. Here's wishing you and yours more craziness and happy memories.

CrAzY Working Mom said...

*LOL* It's not as cold here. When you guys thaw out, you can come my way. Ya won't completely freeze in Arkansas, but there is still snow on the ground. *sigh* Trouble is that there is sand/salt, etc everywhere so it really pointless!

Alison said...

Where is the after shot? I want to see the fruits of your labor...:)

Anonymous said...

Keep him and treasure him.

page2 said...

What a sweet husband you have! He must love you very much.

Grace said...

That is incredibly sweet.

jean said...

What a great gift, practical and totally wacky. Keep him and give him a kiss from me.

Aleta said...

So glad your car got clean - up here in the interior I relish the fact that I don't have to wash my car from Oct to April! LOL!

Lynn said...

Just noticed your comment to spammers! ARGH! What IS it with them, lately. I'm getting tons all of a sudden, and it's driving me IN. SANE.

OK--loved your post today. You sound like you have such fun together! I agree about the little things. When I come up to bed and find that hubs has turned on the electric blanket so I don't have to crawl into a cold bed...I know he's the best!

Anonymous said...

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Unplanned Cooking said...

That is so sweet of your husband! Not only that he did it, but that he knew it was important to you.

Daisy said...

He's a keeper, all right!

karen said...

THAT is true love, what you have there! I drove to Delaware this weekend, where they were busy salting the roads against the winter blast (about the amount of snow you guys might expect in, say, May...). Still, my dark blue car came home white and I've been craving a carwash but keep passing when they're closed. Now that I see you guys DIY in 10 degrees, perhaps I'll attempt it in our 40!

Fawn said...

Awww!

Lori said...

Yep. Crazy. And now everybody knows!

Actually that's really cool. The only one who washes my car is my dad!

Heart2Heart said...

Michelle,

It is so wonderful to hear how you are truly keeping your relationship alive and warm doing these things together. Just these simple things alone are enough sometimes to get us to weather through even more stormy seas ahead, plus just think of the memories you have made!

Love and Hugs ~ Kat

Luschka said...

Oh! What a sweet post! Okay - I'm getting up right now to make my sick hubby some tea! You've inspired me!

Anonymous said...

It's the crazy stuff that you remember! Good for him!

J said...

He sure is a keeper. :)

I remember when we lived in Philadelphia, we washed our car once a week, whether it snowed or not. They had salt on the roads, and we wanted to make sure that our undercarriage didn't get messed up. But we never washed it ourselves in freezing weather. You guys are brave indeed.

Nancy Astudillo from 2MO said...

I can just picture it! I have no doubt you will remember this for years to come. Your husband is a treasure.

Dirty cars are definitely part of winter. Earlier today, I cleaned out the trunk of our car and wouldn't you know it, I had to wash my winter jacket afterward. But the trunk is finally tidy!! Until the next outing that is (snowshoeing, skating or whatever). LOL

I'm also curious... Where are the "after" pictures? :o)

Unknown said...

I hope living the dream will continue to bring you closer. I really do. It seems to just be tearing us apart around here. I am going to try and take a lesson. I appreciate this post.

Janet said...

What a sweetie. All the cars around here look like that all winter too. It's all the gravel and dirt roads and driveways.