The shoe that broke the closets back

“When it rains it pours.” 

“The straw that broke the camel’s back.”

We’ve all heard these old adages a million times in our lives but how many times do we actually live them?

We all know that there is a limit to everything, even closets.  What in the world can I be referring to?

The past few weeks have been exhausting.  I am getting ready for a big Art and Craft show this Saturday, my husband and I have both been sick with sinus infections, and work and laundry waits for no one. (The latter is a Crystal-adage)

Before taking a load off I noticed a stray shoe haphazardly shed in my pre-antibiotic delirium.   I mindlessly bent over, picked it up and put it on the upper closet shelf.  How was I to know that this simple little shoe would become that proverbial straw?

I went downstairs and sat down to take in a bit of television. 

“CRASH.”  “BANG.”  “BUMP.”

Was it the cat?  The dog?  Both were sleeping peacefully, one on the ottoman and the other in the Laz-e-boy.  My husband who had been sparring fruitlessly with his P.C. in the bedroom came rushing downstairs to tell me the closet had collapsed. 

“Are you kidding me?” 

Even so, I was totally unprepared for the sight I was to see. (The photo is a after picked up one and does not do justice to the actual event)  It looked as if…yes, it looked as if we had experienced a much stronger earthquake than last summer’s event.

And at that moment, while I stood there in bewilderment, I lived out the second adage.  The phone started ringing, and it was a woman who was trying to reach my brother who had left his cell phone at the bowling alley.  I tried to sound normal, helped all I could and hung up the phone only for it to start ringing again.  This time, my daughter was on the line saying a light in her kitchen had exploded and what should she do.  (You know I couldn’t make this stuff up right?)  I hung up and again it was the phone insisting to be answered, almost as if it was mocking me.  This time a phone solicitor…need I say more?

After picking up clothing, shoes, boxes and other storage items and putting them in the spare room till my closet gets a facelift, I realize as I lay me down to sleep that my life, is in actuality a situation comedy.  Anyone up for “Everybody loves Crystal”?