The Undomestic Goddess

Don’t beat yourself up for not knowing all the answers. You don’t always have to know who you are. You don’t have to have the big picture, or know where you’re heading. Sometimes it’s enough just to know what you’re going to do next.

Have a great evening, love!” he says.“ And happy birthday!”

If I’ve learned one lesson from all that’s happened to me, it’s that there is no such thing as the biggest mistake of your existence. There’s no such thing as ruining your life. Life’s a pretty resilient thing, it turns out.

“What’s the point?” My words shoot out before I can stop them. “I mean, what’s the point of all this? Making bread. You make it and you eat it. And then… it’s gone.”

I break off abruptly, not quite knowing what’s come over me. I don’t feel totally on top of myself.

Iris gives me a careful look.

“You could say the same of all food,” she points out gently. “Or life itself.”

“Exactly.” I rub my forehead with my apron. “Exactly.”

“In my day,” says Mrs. Farley, shaking her head, “all well-educated girls were taught how to sew on a button, darn a sock, and turn a collar.”

None of this means anything to me. Turn a collar. It’s gibberish.

“Well, in my day… we weren’t,” I reply politely. “We were taught to study for our exams and get a career worth having. We were taught to have opinions. We were taught to use our brains,” I can’t resist adding.

I’m utterly flabbergasted. Judging by his expression, he’s pretty gobsmacked too.

If I’ve learned one lesson from all that’s happened to me, it’s that there is no such thing as the biggest mistake of your existence. There’s no such thing as ruining your life. Life’s a pretty resilient thing, it turns out.

my mind in total turmoil.

Should I attempt small talk? Some light, neighborly chitchat?
“I made some headway on that file you gave me,” I say at last.
“Good,” he says curtly, and nods.
So much for the small talk.

Why does the vacuum cleaner need to go in a bag?” I say, puzzled. “Is she taking it somewhere?”
Maggie peers at me as though she thinks I must be joking. “The bags that go inside your vacuum cleaner,” she says carefully. “To collect the dust? Do you have any of those?”