One of my favorite things to do was the laundry. It wasn’t that I loved going to the laundromat in the hot weather with no A/C and having to deal with dirty families deciding to come wearing their most unforgivable clothing ever just so they can clean their wares. It was a way for me to focus, a chance for me to get away from the mess that is my life, so I could think about whatever it is I need to think about without my usual daily stresses.

The past couple of weeks, however, have been tough for me. Working just about every day, and on my days off I’m with the Lil’ Moo. I don’t want to spend my time with him at the laundromat, I want to be at home doing Daddy things, or out running errands with him so we can go out and have fun. I like to go to the park, or just play in the backyard.

In a bind, I tried simply leaving my clothing with the laundromat. And something strange happened.

I loved it.

I go back almost every week, leaving my clothing and then going off to my business. I spend more time with my son and less time worrying about whether I’ll have something to wear tomorrow. I don’t think about the three hours I need to take so I can get my clothing together, head to the laundromat, sort and wash, take out and dry, then fold, come back to the house, and then put everything away.

I go, drop it off, get my ticket, and leave. The next day, I go back, give the ticket up, pay, grab my clothing, and leave. It’s folded, smells nice, and sometimes even on a hanger.

All I have to do is put my folded clothing away, and that’s it. I’m done until next time.

I miss those times where I get to sit and do nothing, waiting for my clothing to get spun and rinsed, thinking about nothing and letting my psyche loosen up, but I have that time back, and I love it.

I wonder if I can find someone to do the same thing with my car.