I did some stuff I SWORE I wasn’t doing for Pesach, because it is Spring Cleaning, not chometz-seeking. But I still felt it was l’kovod yom tov, so I am very happy I did it. One example, I painted my front door yesterday, with my son’s help. Sounds like it would be a snap, two rollers, a can of paint and voila! But –
men tracht und Gott lacht. The painter’s tape would not stay stuck, so the paint got on the edges of the brick, my front door mezuzah case, all over my skirt hem, (it’s ok, even though it won’t come out, as much as I “Goop”ed it, the skirt was down to the floor anyhow, so I can shorten it a little), the porch is now speckled because the tape did not keep the plastic I put down, in place, etc. etc.etc. The Goop got most of it off. I was only worried about the Mezuzah, anyway, and it’s fine. We had a great time, it took a couple of hours for a number of reasons, but it was so worth it.
Things like these make me feel I am doing something special, not just turning my house over, but actually “inviting” yom tov in. I know it probably sounds very corny, and the cynics in the CR are all nodding their heads in agreement right about now, but I think that Positive Pesach Perception attitude is the difference between loving and eagerly looking forward to it as I do each year, or dreading it and wishing it were over already. Anyhow, in case I am way too caught up to think to say it again, I wish all of us and all of Klal Yisroel a zeesen, kosher Pesach, filled with much joy and anticipation of the final Geulah.