Coming home from a long trip is always a mixed blessing,  Arrival reinforces the thought that ‘there is no place like home’ but, usually, it is also a reminder – for me at least — that we had left before I had time to finish tidying up or emptying the dishwasher or whatever.  There are always ‘things to do’ and, within an hour or so of my return, I’m usually right back in the usual groove.

My mother used to clean the house from top to bottom before she left on vacation.  She laughingly called that process her “dying plans” though it had nothing to do with wills or burial instructions.  She simply didn’t want to chance that someone would have to enter a messy house (her messy house) should the unthinkable happen.

But, when we came home from California yesterday after a ten-day, fun-filled trip, we found clear evidence that fairies or elves had been hard at work during our absence.  Our friend Linda and her friend Wendy had been staying here – we had made those arrangements months ago.  Our trip coincided with the end of their Seattle teaching year and we had offered our house as a get-away for them.

The huge bonus for us was a worry-free vacation, at least from the standpoint of the house.  What we didn’t expect was that we would find things tidier, cleaner, and more sparkling than they ever are under my not-so-eagle eye.  There were fresh flowers in the vases.  The carpets had been vacuumed.  Our old teakettle – usually just a bit gummy from neglect – sat gleaming invitingly on the stove. There were even little gifts and notes left here and there!

What there was not, was any evidence of Linda and Wendy.  Just like the little elves in the fairy tales, they had disappeared.  We knew that they couldn’t be here on our return so we were prepared to face an empty house.  But, what a surprise that they had left it in such apple-pie order.  Truly ‘beyond the call.’  My mother would have been sore amazed!