The Big Jump

 I've waited fourteen year to have a roof outside our bedroom window so that I could clean the picture windows on the outside. No one was getting me on an extension ladder - two floors up - so I've waited.  That doesn't mean they haven't been washed in fourteen years but not for quite a while and not by me. So this summer we have built a covered wraparound veranda. I have a beautiful sloped roof and I was waiting in anticipation of the day they shingled it to get out there and wash the windows. I got all my equipment ready and out on the roof, tied myself around the waist and the other end around the casement window (I know - I'm a wimp!) and climbed out on the roof. Then sat down. The tilt on the roof, which looked like nothing when I stood inside, in my safe bedroom, was making me sweat actually being on it. I inched my way across the roof on my butt, kind of like the crab walk we did in phys. ed. in school and realized that there was no way I was going to be able to stand up and turn my back on the slope with nothing to hang on to. Landen, my 8 year old comes to the window to ask if he could watch T.V. "No", I said, "I want you to read a book for a while". Humph! The kid could have gone anywhere in the house to read but instead he installed himself on the rattan stool in the corner of the bedroom, by the open window. I'm still struggling to figure out how to turn and clean the window without falling to my death. Ben, my 12 year old, comes to the window to ask me something... don't even know what it was I was so nervous. I told him not to talk to me until I came in again (if I came in again *~*). I tried many things to try and wash those windows... grabbing the window frame, getting on my knees which still left me too short to reach the top, everything I tried did not accomplish the desired outcome of getting those windows cleaned. Because I was on my bum, or knees, the water from the window was, of course, pouring down the roof underneath me. Finally I gave up, and in frustration moved my soaking wet behind, inch by inch, back to the open window. When I noticed Landen sitting there I said, "Child, with all the places you could have gone to read in this house why would you chose to sit right there?" I was testy by now, more mad with myself for not being brave enough to throw caution to the wind (no pun intended) and wash those windows. Landen said he just felt like being there. Guess what book he chose to read? "The Big Jump". That amused me and I sat on the roof laughing like an idiot - pants all wet, tied to the open window. I crawled back in the bedroom and stood there looking at the roof I had waited fourteen years for knowing I had been defeated by it's slope. All day I was mad at myself. I had to go out and when I came home I looked at that roof again and decided to conquer it! This time I stayed on my feet and side stepped over to the window then turned sideways and washed those two windows!!!! I still couldn't look at them face on but at least I could reach the top. It is not the best job I've ever done but I was quite thrilled to have accomplished the goal. I'm still scared but now I know I can do it. It definitely gives me a huge appreciation for roofers.