Today wasn’t quite what I had planned. This is day 8 with my current wife, Sue, gone. As I had mentioned in my last blog, laundry is becoming an issue. Evidently my daughters have recognized my plight and also my reluctance in facing the dreaded washer/dryer machines.
Last night under the premise of helping close #1’s pool for the winter, I went to her house to help and took a pot of chili also. We got the pool taken care of and I completed a couple of other small chores. We went inside. Jenny, #1, decided to bake some corn bread while the chili was warming up. #2 was joining us also and the timing would be just right. #2, Debby, arrived, we had a relaxing meal with corn bread. Yummy! I did notice that they seemed a little preoccupied and tense but brushed it off.
A knock on the door woke Kinnick. He woofed in his deepest, meanest tone at the stranger. This guy, Ralph I think, was a friend of Debby. We all gathered in the living room. Ralph explained he has successfully conducting many interventions. WHAT!!!! Intervention? I had been lured into an intervention to confront my laundry machine fears. For more than 3 hours we discussed my fears, trepidations and long ago suppressed fears stemming from wringer washing machines. There was hugging (me with a pillow), crying (mostly by me) and words of encouragement and support. I committed to attend group therapy twice a week for a month, was given an 800 hot line number to call if I had a panic attack or needed someone to walk me through the process and finally, Ralph presented me with a big jug of Tide and a box of fabric softener sheets.
I excused myself, hurriedly escaped to my van and went home, locking the doors to keep out intruders. I went to bed but didn’t sleep well at all. I kept having dreams of mountains of suds coming out of the washing machine, getting the pile of colored clothes wet and them bleeding into the adjacent pile of whites. Yeow!
Today I got up and had 2 stiff cups of Special Roast PLUS a couple of long pulls of Mogen David Wine that was left in the frig from a year or two ago. Down the stairs I went and stood in front of the laundry room beasts. With liquid bravado coursing through my veins, I turned and began sorting these clothes into white, colors and darks like I had been taught. Oh NO! What do I do, I have a white t-shirt with multi-colored designs ----- which pile?? Called the hot line – ring, ring, ring, no answer. Sweat is pouring down from my brow, I’ve gotta do something with this t-shirt. I made a command decision – through it away and get on with the laundry. Sweaty palms, shaking, and panting, I managed to get a load washed. Quickly I ripped them out of the washer into the dryer, crank it to 60 minutes, slam the lid shut and I’m out of there.
Whew!!! It was grueling. Tomorrow I may try to do a second load. I may also unload the dryer. I finally got someone on the hot line and they promised to help through it – Boy I hope so. Thanks girls for the intervention but JC Penney’s still seems easier. I hope sleep finds me tonight. Until later – TA!
No comments:
Post a Comment