Personal Masquerade

Meet Mrs. Tiggy-winkle, one of our family's favorite Beatrix Potter characters. Here she is, masquerading at a family function half-a-year ago. See those little "hair-pins" sticking out of her cap? Perhaps its her prickly side that makes her so lovable.

There's something about masks that appeals to people--to some of us, anyway. Can we become someone else if we look different? Masks appeal to me, especially, at this time of year. You see, I don't make resolutions. Instead, I put on a mask of "Neat and Tidy, Organized and In Control." It's fun . . . for about a week.

I pretend for a week, or so, that I'm going to spend this year completely on top of the litter of a household. I make promises . . .

This year I will NOT let myself get snowed in by a paper blizzard. Today I will look through all the stacks of paper I've set aside since summer, then file, respond, shred, or recycle . . . whatever is appropriate. And I'll keep it that way all year. (Ha!)

This year I will NOT let myself get swept away by the flood of clutter in drawers and cupboards. Today I will empty drawers and clean high shelves. I will re-compartmentalize contents, fill a thrift-store bag with unnecessary accumulated 'stuff.' And I'll keep it that way all year. (Ha! Ha!)

So it goes . . . my mask will soon be off. One thing I won't do--and I am certain of it. Unlike Mrs. Tiggy-winkle, I will try very hard NOT iron anything but table linens.

Mrs. Tiggy-winkle's mask and my mask of organization have one thing in common--prickles. It's amazing how ornery I get when I'm organizing 'things.' And that might be just the reason to quickly get over my "try-to-get-on-top-of-it" attitude. Yet, I have to boast just a little: the surfaces of my office, including its drawers and shelves, are exceptionally tidy today.