She’s a clean machine

She’s a clean machine

As a devoted caregiver for my wife Anne, I find myself constantly hovering, attentive to her every need – sometimes to an excessive degree. Her battle with terminal brain cancer has left her quite wobbly on her feet, requiring me to be vigilant at all times. Whether it’s guiding her through the house or anticipating her needs before she voices them, my protective instincts are always in overdrive.

Despite the challenges, Anne’s wit shines through brilliantly, making even the most difficult days lighter with her sharp humour. One of her quirks is her intense relationship with showers: she’ll either indulge in hours-long sessions multiple times a day or decide to skip the ritual entirely. This unpredictability keeps me on my toes, ensuring the bathroom is always safe and ready, no matter which way her mood swings.

After a successful shower, Anne often proudly declares herself “a clean machine,” quoting the Beatles’ song Penny Lane with a mischievous grin. These moments of joy and levity are precious, reminding me that even in the midst of illness, her spirit and sense of fun remain undiminished. My role as a helicopter caregiver is demanding, but it’s also filled with love, laughter, and the little routines that make our days meaningful and complete.

In Penny Lane, there is a barber showing photographs
Of every head he’s had the pleasure to know
And all the people that come and go
Stop and say hello

On the corner is a banker with a motorcar
And little children laugh at him behind his back
And the banker never wears a mac in the pouring rain
Very strange

Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes
Wet beneath the blue suburban skies
I sit and meanwhile back in

Penny Lane, there is a fireman with an hourglass
And in his pocket is a portrait of the Queen
He likes to keep his fire engine clean
It’s a clean machine

Penny Lane, is in my ears and in my eyes
A four of fish and finger pies
In summer, meanwhile back

Behind the shelter in the middle of a roundabout
A pretty nurse is selling poppies from a tray
And though she feels as if she’s in a play
She is anyway

Penny Lane, the barber shaves another customer
We see the banker sitting waiting for a trim
And then, the fireman rushes in from the pouring rain
Very strange

Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes
There beneath the blue suburban skies
I sit and meanwhile back
Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes
There beneath the blue suburban skies
Penny Lane

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_Lane

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magical_Mystery_Tour

The song “Penny Lane”  appears on the Beatles’ album Magical Mystery Tour.” I have written about the album and the era here:

https://robertmcbrydeauthor.com/spring-1969-magical-mystery-tour/