The last six months in our country have been full of
horrific life changing events. This blog was written before the murders in
Sandy Hook and after Hurricane Sandy.
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Some things in life really don’t matter all that much.
Obtaining the window seat on an airline, shotgun in a car
unless you are prone to car sickness or even voting in the perfect candidate
(don’t kill me please, I am too pretty to die yet.)
What does matter is seven minutes left on the Laundromat dryer.
Every so often, my least favorite job in the universe,
changes. It used to be filling the car with gas. Since we no longer have a car,
problem solved. Next it was loading the dishwasher. Since we no longer have a
dishwasher, problem solved. Are you seeing a trend here?
The next least favorite job in the universe is climbing the
stairs in the Subway… problem redirected, not solved. Buses are now added to
routes, elevators here and there and hiking boots rather than sneakers really
do help. But stairs seem to multiple. This is one job that seems insurmountable
and thus must be ignored as a least favorite and turned into rite of passage.
In other words, since it is a means to an end, let it go.
Which finally gets me back to what really matters in life,
seven minutes left on the dryer.
Did I tell you that doing laundry in a laundry mat requires
fortitude, diligence and quarters? Plus diplomatic skills unknown at the United
Nations.
I digress. Again.
Today was the much dreaded laundry day. So dreaded that we
take turns as to who will forego their entire day and venture forth into the bowels
of our building’s basement (not G rated). It is always anybody’s guess as to
which of the four washers and four dryers will be working for the three
building in my apartment complex.
We arrive prior to the opening bell to get first crack at all
machines. We turn on the lights, causing all roaches to scurry to their roach
places (actually things in that department are much better since the feral cats
are now on guard.)
Machines loaded, detergent, soaps, bleach, etc.…water
everywhere…call the contract service…and move wet clothes to dryer.
Two neighbors have come down to check out the time remaining
on the washers just to see when they can get started.
And before all is said and done, I ended up using all four
dryers. After all, I was there 40 minutes earlier. Unwritten laundry mat
law—first come gets whatever is available …however normally I leave a open washer
anyway. But today I wanted to get it done.
Thus all four dryers got loaded immediately after all four
washers when through their paces.
A few months ago prices were raised. Apparently to justify
this, more minutes were added to the drying time. Someone forgot to tell my
clothes. Burning clothes can be a problem. Also loading extra clothes in the
dryer lumps them together so badly that nothing dries!
Never mind. I just keep my eye out, remove and fold early
before the new time runs out.
Happily, an extra seven minutes is left for the next user.
Oh, I’m not the only one. Just about every one is sharing
minutes now. No one needs the extra drying time. No one needed the price
increase either but this was long before the fiscal cliff talks so we can’t blame
the talks on this one.
Clothes folded (enough to get them back upstairs anyway),
sheets back on the bed and hubby sweetly planning his trip to the dungeon next
week!
What would you do if a stranger gave you seven minutes?
