I am back in the kitchen appliance game. After more months than I care to remember hand washing my dishes, I did my bit yesterday to keep the American economy spinning, I bought a dishwasher. It will be installed February 24th. I walked in, pointed at the one I wanted, paid, and left. I did a modest amount of research in advance of course. I asked a friend who knew what he was talking about what he recommended. He told me. I did it. There is a better than an even chance the dishwasher will outlast me. I’m good with that.

I also took my car in for service yesterday. I had the oil changed. Gone are the days when I would slide under my car to do that deed. It used to be my thing. I kept our cars running. I could tear down carburetors, replace brakes, fuel pumps, and tie-rods. If there was a manual with instructions, I had the time and energy. No more. I’m left with changing air filters and even that seem onerous at times. I guess it’s just a nice reminder of the days when I’d go to my white-collar job with grease under my fingernails, although it’s hard to figure out why I took such pleasure in doing that sort of thing.

Right now, it just seems odd that my two big chores yesterday were buying goods and services. But the boxes are checked, and I feel accomplished. I’m light a few dollars but accomplished. Its seems a fair trade. Meanwhile my next chores await. The yard. It’s in a winter state of disrepair and I know what needs doing and I’ll probably get going next week, although there’s really no good reason why I shouldn’t get started this week, or even today. Oh, my God. I think I just talked myself into something. Wow. I’m too easy.

John W. Wilson is the author of The Long Goodbye: A Caregiver’s Tale