What does vacuuming have to do with it?

When I was a little girl we lived in a one-story house, some of the house had hardwood floors (to my recollection, it was mainly the hallways, kitchen, etc.) But the rooms had carpet. And it was the best carpet to vacuum. It was a craft, I thought, to vacuum those carpets - particularly our living room - perfectly. 

I would get the lines just right, making it look exceptionally clean and neat. I could not have been more proud of myself. But inevitably, the lines would eventually disappear under the footprints of our golden retriever, my younger brother and my parents. Sometimes they appeased me for a little while, promising not to step foot in the room. But most of the time, despite my pathetic pleas, they would roll their eyes and walk right in. 

I loved keeping my room perfect too over the years....I worked hard making things look just right. Even though my closets and drawers were a disaster (no one could see those). But when my need for cleanliness really kicked in was college. Especially due to the messiness of my freshman college roommate - the bassoon-playing, Eeyore-loving, Elton John worshipping* roommate - and her inability to keep things clean. Disaster. For many, many reasons.

Eeyore (just in case I wasn't clear on this)

My best friend has heard the stories about this interesting girl. She knows what I'm talking about. They are good stories for when the conversation at the dinner table has died down. Anyway. Even now, I wish carpet after being vacuumed stayed that way just a little longer. 

So that's the literal meaning.

Metaphorically - no matter how much we try - life (and all that is thrown our way) is coming whether we want it or not. We can't control it. We can't always use a really expensive vacuum cleaner to make it look better. We can't always hire someone to fix it.

Since early February I have, more than ever before, understood what it means to have almost no control over what life is throwing at me. Because life is throwing me cancer. 

*for the record, I really like Elton John and his music. I just don't worship Elton John.