Ode to the Washer

Dear Washing Machine,

Words fail me.  I don't think I have ever found a more faithful sidekick than you these last 10 years and I don't think I've ever given you the appreciation you deserve.

When you entered my home you washed the clothing belonging to 2 people.  The work was not hard unless I gave you a load of dirty dairy coveralls which, I must say, you dealt with amazingly well.  You were shiny and new and looked great.  Soon a little one was added to the household and your work load increased a little.

Then life took a drastic change for you.  You were roughly thrust out of your spacious basement, loaded on a truck and exposed to the elements for a good hour.  You were hauled off the truck again, wheeled through a tiny hallway and forcibly pushed and shoved down a narrow staircase.  There you sat in a rather creepy looking basement.  But despite the trauma, you did not succumb to PTSD.  No, you faithfully washed a load of blankets for me--yes that very same day.  Thank you.

7 months later, once again, you were violently man handled.  This time back up those narrow creepy stairs, onto another truck and another brisk ride where you were exposed to the elements.  By now we were a family of 4 who depended on you.  Yes, all this you took in stride.

After another rough jolting with a few more dings, scrathes and dents, you found yourself in your current resting place.  While you have not moved since, our family dynamics have.  A third, then a fourth, then a fifth child.  Still you worked faithfully.  The laundry loads changed from 1 a day--to 3 a day--to even 8 a day. 

Dear sweet washing machine.  You have stood ready at 2:30am when a child had puked all over his bedspread.  You have willingly washed yet another set of smelly sheets when a child had a night time accident.  You tackled a weekend's worth of camping clothing.  Washing machine, we never, never gave you a break.  We totally used you and gave you nothing but more work in return.

But now, we decided to change things up.  We've decided to give you a break.  We're the ones who have left, and you will not be jostled up the stairs again.  We have done this so that you can perhaps live a longer life.  Once again you will serve a household of 2.  You will be given an easy life.  You will not be abused. 

Take care sweet washing machine.  Thank you for being so faithful.  You have made my life easy in an area that would be otherwise quite unbearable without your presence.  Enjoy your rest.  You deserve it.

--The Gordons--