Caitlin Hurd

Joint Enrollment Student, Georgia Perimeter College

Meticulous Grandmama

The word “meticulous” precisely describes my grandmother. In her mind, things must always be spic and span and in perfect order. She always looks very clean and neatly dressed. She wears freshly ironed slacks and blouses with matching jewelry. There are never scuffs on her shoes. She wears her hair neatly combed and always has on a fresh coat of soft red lipstick. From appearance to housekeeping and planning, Grandmama does her part to make this world a tidy place.

Always cleaning and making sure that things are in precise order, Grandmama keeps her house in perfect condition. The carpet is spotless and striped with lines of fresh vacuuming at all time. Not one dust particle can be located on any counter top, bookshelf, fan, or lamp shade. Picture frames and figurines line up in careful display along the freshly polished wooden shelves. Not only does Grandmama make sure that her own home is spotless, but she also can’t stand for anyone else’s to be anything less than perfectly organized. At the age of seventy-six on one of her trips to visit my family and me, she cleaned the garage from wall to wall and top to bottom. When she was finished, the garage was unrecognizable.

When my family and I go to visit my grandmother, she plans and organizes so that our entire trip will be nothing but comfortable; no one could be better prepared. There is a bed neatly made with fresh, crisp sheets, soft blankets, and fluffy pillows for each of us. The kitchen table is precisely set with the exact number of placemats and chairs needed for all of us to eat. She has every meal planned for the whole visit. Grandmama even goes out and buys yogurt and salad supplies for my dad, Diet Coke for my mom, and Bazooka Joe’s bubble gum for my brother and me.

For any special event or holiday, I can always expect a package from Grandmama, meticulously wrapped as if by a professional. The paper is always tightly wrapped, with no puffiness on the corners, and sealed neatly with scotch tape. When she sends clothes as a gift, they are neatly folded and wrapped in tissue paper inside of the beautifully decorated outside packaging. On one occasion, she sent me a book for collecting the new state quarters. Now, every couple of months, I receive a card from her containing a small, special-sized plastic baggy with the newest state quarter inside. The tidy baggy is carefully attached to the card by a piece of tape exactly the correct length. She also will often enclose a crisp, neatly folded twenty dollar bill.

If cleanliness is a virtue, then my grandmother is the most virtuous woman on earth. With her extraordinary attention to detail, Grandmama is meticulous in everything she does. Just thinking of her makes me want to clean my closet and vacuum the living room.