I have housekeeping service every 2 weeks that I started when I was working full time, traveling, and had 2 little kids. Prior to hiring help, and because I was raised by a compulsive cleaner and can't stand dirty counters and floors, I'd spend a good portion of every weekend cleaning. Getting outside help bought me more quality time with my family.

M. has been helping me for about 13 years. She's watched my kids grow up, I've celebrated the births of her 2 children. I pass to her a lot of my clothes, and she loves to wear them, or share them with friends. (Honestly, sometimes I buy things thinking, this is really going to look cute on her when I'm done with it.) I've referred several clients to her over the years. We sold her our well-driven minivan after she had her recent baby, on barter. We've given her furniture. I am always so glad to help, and to pass things along to someone who needs, wants, and will use them.

4 weeks ago, she cancelled because her baby was sick. 2 weeks later...around March 10, she called to see if she could come that Thursday instead of Friday. She sounded sick (she's fine - just a bad cold), and quickly said she was going to the doctor but she'd be better by the end of the week. In the moment I agreed to the schedule change, but as the news got more urgent about social distancing etc., I texted to cancel. I expect that was just one of a dozen similar texts she was about to receive. I told her I would send her the check I'd already written 2 weeks earlier, and we would figure it out going forward.

I've been thinking so much about her, and all of other undocumented, hard-working people who provide our services at nail salons, hair salons, and in our homes. How devastating this current situation is. This article in the NYT validated what had been nagging at me:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/0.....rants.html

I am beyond grateful that my job is intact, and I have healthcare. Personally - and because I am able - I plan to continue paying M, and I'm going to also send something to the sweet woman at the nail salon who I would have seen at least once this month. This whole situation has caused me to take a very hard look at clearly unnecessary expenditures, like eating out (particularly any place other than a local privately-owned establishment), and to consider permanent changes and ongoing redirection of discretionary funds in better ways. We could argue that hair and nail services and cleaning services are also unnecessary as we are clearly living without them now, but I expect most of us will return to them as soon as we can.

Now that I'm intensely cleaning my house top to bottom again (I always keep it up, but I'm deep cleaning it now. Cue the Murphy's Oil soap for cabinet cleaning!), I appreciate and miss M more than ever.

(That article above led to this opinion piece, also interesting:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/0.....gin-google )