Saturday, January 10, 2009

Laundry

Two things today:

1. Laundry

Laundry is one of those things that I continually complain about. I don't want to carry my overloaded hamper down the three flights of stairs in my apartment. I don't want to trudge through the snow with the same hamper. -- I did fall once, you know. I was pleased to find I didn't fling underwear into the main drag, but the next time it could definitely happen. -- I don't want to turn all of my cash into quarters. And I don't want to wait in the laundramat for clothes to wash that will ultimately come out smelling of machinery and slightly like someone else's B.O.

However... today when I did all of those things (without falling!), I was rewarded with several unexpected perks. For example, I got 'shocked' out of my reading reverie by the sound of a taser. Turns out the cashier was just showing it to the guy on the other side of the counter, but it was exciting and surprising nonetheless.

So, I should stop complaining about doing laundry. It's not really so bad. And, who knows, I might get lucky and see someone tasered for real one day.


2. Books



Please look up Jennifer Finney Boylan and read both of her memoirs. I was first introduced to Boylan through a Barbara Walters Special. Though her expertise was apparent in her ever-so-brief clip, I actually rewound the tape when Walters said that Boylan lives in Maine. Maine! How exciting and fun and just great.

Anyway, I am no good at summarizing books or introducing people, so I'll just say that I've recently read both of Boylan's memoirs. I love books as an entity, and I usually like most of the books that I read. However, I've been realizing in the last year or so that there are a few books that I truly love. Boylan's memoirs are two of those loved books for me.

She's Not There and Growing Up Haunted both reduced me to tears at parts. And, if you know me, you know that doesn't happen often.

I could write more about these incredible incredible (yes, two) books, but I'll let you approach them for yourselves.


As you can see, there is no common thread to my two notes today. Except, of course, that I read Growing Up Haunted while I waited for my laundry. For that reason, I am having trouble concluding. Let's just go with this:

Don't complain about laundry and go read a book, will you?

1 comment:

Kate said...

I always complain about laundry!

Hopefully these books are at my library. They sound very good.