Love it. I love Pesach.
First of all it’s a license to give away and throw out things you wouldn’t dare give away or throw out during the year.
I know it’s a little early for some. And now you’re thinking “She’s one of those.”
It’s not true.
For years I was one of “those” who “sold” half the house for Pesach. Started as late as possible so I would have as much excuse as possible for why I had to tape closed all the cabinets.
I remember the Pesach one month after I had twins. Twins in the first year of aliyah on top of a secluded mountain surrounded by Arab villages with no family babysitters or cleaning help in sight.
I actually packed a suitcase with exactly what we’d need for the week. Took out two pots two pans and shut everything else down. I believe I filled up a window cleaner bottle with bleach and water and shpritzed every corner of the house knowing that now a dog couldn’t eat it. But it wasn’t because I didn’t love cleaning for Pesach it was because at that time this was the best I could do.

Every year a person has to assess what they are actually capable of but without judgments. And to see how year by year we get better. Things get better. Children grow up and help or move out. That helps too.
Every year for the last 12 years we’re in Bait VeGan I’ve had the same conversation with the same friend on the same corner.
“What are you up to?” she always asks.
“Throwing and sorting ” I always say.
Then we laugh because we know these lines already. Then she says as she says every year “We have the same conversation every year.”

“I know but we can’t not say it.”
After a whole good speech about how important it is to organize before cleaning and how they are two completely different activities and how cleaning is so much easier or at least less scary if everything’s in its place this year I have a new addition.

“You know what I started doing?” I say.

“Yeah?” She listens. We just want to stay on this corner near the nosh store with the sun shining and the winter air still crisp. Our Canadian and New Yorker souls appreciating the familiarity of the cold. Before the heat pours on and we stand with our hands shading our eyes.

“It’s all about preparation” I say.
We shake our heads knowing that preparation with a full house on no sleep is a wonderful dream.

“Yeah preparation” she yawns.

“So this is my new thing” I say “I set the clocks all over the house an hour back.”

“Nu?”

“I start bedtime an hour early.”

“Uh huh.” She likes the idea but “I don’t think I can do that” she says “half the house has watches.”

“What a shame” I say. “It’s just so amazing. I do the first call ‘Bedtime’ and no one

moves but now I don’t get nervous because we’re already one hour ahead of schedule. “Second bedtime announcement when the thirst and the hunger bells go off I’m ready. Next step towards the bedrooms with still 40 minutes left to decide they really do want to take a shower in the end. After showers there’s still time for the little piece of forgotten homework the unsigned note and the 10 shekels for the new girl in class’s birthday party.

“All that done in bed. A few minute shmooze and bingo asleep right on time.”

She loves it.

“I’m doing the same with Pesach cleaning this year. Starting early so there’s time for all the shtick. Here goes ‘Pesach! First call!’”