Labor saving devices

Lisa and I went to Norman today to pick up the organic turkey breasts we had pre-ordered. We had a few other things we needed or wanted so we ended up going to five or six shops. Both of us have a lot to do this week so we managed to sandwich in this trip between lunch and dinner. Monday is my busier day in the house as I wash the bed linens, try to finish all the laundry, feed the parakeet, clean the litterbox, water all the houseplants (I have a LOT of them) and generally get things back in order from the weekend.

As I was thinking about what I am thankful for today, what came to mind are my washer and dryer. When my grandmother was a young housewife, doing the family’s laundry was an arduous chore. Laundry was traditionally done on Mondays and it took all day. The reason that red beans and rice is the traditional Monday meal in New Orleans is because it was an easy meal for a woman who would be toiling over the laundry all day.

As I said, Monday is the day I wash our bed linens, as well as catching up on the rest of the laundry. I often do a load several other days a week but Monday is my main laundry day, just as generations of homemakers before me have done. The difference is that I have machines that make it almost effortless. Before I left the house today I was able to have our bed linens washed and mostly dry, plus another load in the washer. Despite being gone most of the day, I could still fit in laundry.

It’s easy to take things for granted, like washers and dryers. Or refrigerators, vacuum cleaners, dishwashers. What about something as basic as hot, running water? It’s something most of us take for granted and yet much of the world hardly dares to dream of such luxury. I try to remind myself of these things as I am washing yet another sinkful of dirty dishes, or washing another load of laundry, or vacuuming the floor again. I’m very fortunate and I don’t ever want to forget that.

November Thankfulness: