I coined the term "the Grandmother Gene" years ago, after running around madly before one vacation, doing laundry, making sure there were clean sheets on the bed, doing all the dishes, vacuuming, mowing the lawn and generally exhausting myself before leaving town. This thought goes along with the edict to always wear clean underwear before leaving the house in case you get run over by a truck. The compulsion was totally irrational and it really didn't bode well to run around in a frenzy, becoming exhausted before going somewhere relaxing.

I gave it a lot of thought and came to the conclusion that it was inherited, a part of the genetic code passed down by our grandmothers from eons past. I'm sure the cave women did the same thing before moving camp to the next hunting ground. I can hear the woman saying, "Jack, take that stack of old bones out of the cave before we leave." In the case of the pioneer women, owing to the uncertainty of life and the great risk involved in traveling, leaving a clean house was important, in case of an untimely demise.

This genetic trait does not apply only to women - if you identify with it, it's yours.

(c) Faye Riley 2005
edited 04-22-06