This weekend I did the kind of cleaning that left me with more of mess than when I started.
Yes, I can finally walk to the back of our 15′ x 3′ walk-in storage closet without wading through a knee-deep pile of mess. Yes, my bedroom closet is now outfitted with season-appropriate clothes and the floor is empty. Yes, the shelves in the bathroom have been edited and organized. But all that work has moved a tidal wave of yet-to-be-organized stuff out into my cramped office and every other part of the house.
Sigh.
Not super satisfying. Unless I want to go hang out in the closets…
But in the midst of the cleaning frenzy, I did come across some very entertaining nuggets that haven’t seen the light of day for years. One that I’m enjoying the most is a journal I was required to keep a couple of decades ago when I worked in different house.
The White House.
The one in D.C., where POTUS lives. President. Of. The. United. States.
(How? What? Me? I know! It was amazing.)
Want to hear a few excerpts, straight from the pen of the naive young intern, Julie?
Tuesday, September 5:
For ten hours straight I answered phones. I talked to NBC, ABC, CBS, BBC. I talked to absolutely every press person in the United States. Okay, half of them. Leigh, the other intern, talked to the rest.
Wednesday, September 6:
Today I met a Secret Service man. He was friendly. I felt nervous though, like I shouldn’t be talking to him too much.
Thursday, September 7:
I can see that in spite of the experiences, I really am basically doing busywork. Phones and filing. BUT: I am the happiest bored person in D.C. This city would die without us interns.
Tuesday, September 12:
Today I talked to Jack Hicks from KQRS back home.
Tuesday, September 19:
Today was fairly slow because POTUS was in Spokane, Washington. But he came back at 6:10 pm in Marine One and we got to go out and see him arrive. He waved at us and said, “What are you doing out here in the rain?!”
Friday, October 6:
POTUS was not around today. He was having minor surgery on his middle finger.
Wednesday, October 11:
On the way over to the Rose Garden with the press, after the ceremony, three Italian reporters stopped me and asked for a photo with me. I was flattered but the whole time I was paranoid that I would get in trouble for having my picture taken or something. Paul turned around while they were shaking my hand. “Making some new friends, Julie?” he said. Very funny.
Friday, November 3:
I was able to edit some video speeches for Maria today. One of them…was especially awkward and poorly written. I edited it, Maria liked my changes, and now the President is going to read MY words!
Friday, November 17:
Today I was asked out to dinner by a White House staffer that I didn’t even know.
Monday, December 11:
The reception was great – tons of incredible food, important newspaper editors, cabinet members, and the President standing five feet away chatting beside me. What an experience!
I’m not seeing any entries about cleaning closets.
by julie rybarczyk
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