Remember that Friends episode when Ross takes Rachel out to the
laundromat? It's sort of been like that for my husband and me for the past two
years. When we took that leap to redo the basement, we also faced the hard
truth that (No, it can't be!) we would be without laundry facilities. In
the beginning I was like Rachel, overwhelmed and certain I would never get the
hang of this new routine. Now I can see I was overdue for a little toughening
up.
The first few trips were pretty rocky. We forgot the softener. We
needed cash to get quarters. We got in each others' way.
But then communication started to happen, and teamwork. If I
bought quarters, he bought dinner. He would load up detergent and I would pay
the machines. While folding our clean clothes, we would find things to talk
about, or even strike up a conversation with other laundromat regulars. Laundry
night became our date night.
As much as I dislike washing my unmentionables
in public, I have to say I'm grateful for the experience. Also grateful for my
new laundry room. Soooo grateful. Won't be taking the ability to do laundry at midnight in my p.j.s for granted ever again.
