Fanciful tales of Santa Claus, Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy were not part of the oral traditions passed down to my children during their formative years. Throughout their growing up, they gleefully took part in celebratory activities associated with the various holidays as well as receiving monetary compensation for each baby tooth that made its way out of their mouth as they partook of the rite of passage from babyhood to childhood. They always understood the source of the gifts they received, along with the knowledge that such whimsical tales were only “make believe” which is why I found myself in a humorous quandary as to how dirty dishes were suddenly making their way into the dishwasher long after I went to bed for the night.
It began simply enough… With the previous night’s sleep still lingering about me, I made my way into the kitchen to collect my early morning cup of coffee and was stunned to see the counters wiped clean and the dishwasher door locked– teasing me with the thought of a completed wash cycle on a load of dishes I had not done. Carefully positioned on a kitchen towel laid out on the counter beside the sink were a few miscellaneous utensils that would not easily fit in the dishwasher. After about the third or fourth time of experiencing this great marvel, I wondered aloud to my husband, “I believe a dish fairy has visited my kitchen!” Continuing on with his morning, he expressed no surprise at my observation as I proceeded to unload the clean dishes in preparation for another round of the day’s soiled plates and cups. The unspoken conversation between us warmed my heart, as I did not interrogate further and he offered no additional insights.
I still don’t believe in fairies, but on some early mornings as I awake from my slumber and plod my way toward the kitchen, clean dishes await me. I cheerfully load them into the cupboards for another day of use, and smile at the thought of my own personal “dish fairy” that occasionally visits in the still of the night while I am sleeping peacefully in my bed.
