Talking To Strangers

I've decided that I have a bi-weekly, sometimes weekly experience, that is mostly worth writing about. It's called "doing laundry at the laundromat". And I've decided to write about it as often as it happens, especially if something noteworthy occurs. Because most of the time, it's day - altering!

I happen to go to a laundromat in the next town over. Why the next town over? Well, if you saw where I live and the people I see and experience, you might understand why I choose to go the next town over. It's a little less rough, I pay a little more money for a nicer crowd of people, and have yet to really be disappointed there. Plus, it's only about a 7 minute drive.

My first visit to said laundromat ended with 2 very friendly women, one who told me her name was Patty and a few of the close local stores where I could find cheap groceries and household items, and the other woman helped me figure out all the laundromat machines. It always helps when I have my children with me because their cute little faces could charm the pants off of most people, on a good day when they have both been fed and napped. :) My 2 girls went to work, and soon enough we were all talking like old friends! It's always rejuvenating when complete strangers will be kind and helpful. Patty even helped me out to my car with all my bags of now-clean-laundry! What a sweetheart!

I seem to go bi-weekly, so my 2nd visit was two weeks ago and Reed was able to accompany me for the first time since I wanted him to see "our" laundromat and the neat store that Patty  had informed me of on my first visit. That week there was a grumpy hispanic lady who frowned at me anytime I tried to make eye contact or even smiled at her. Her wall was impenetrable. No talkative strangers that day.

This morning I had everything ready to go and despite a rather sleepless night thanks to a teething Bronwyn, I was up and at the laundromat *by myself* by 9 am! Reed stayed home with the girlies, so I got to go do laundry by myself. It was heaven. I was mostly alone until my clothes were almost finished washing, when a man wearing sweatpants approached me to ask me how to wash something for his fiance.
 I was literally tearing up as this man explained he was trying to wash his fiance's sheets because it was their anniversary and the one thing his sweetheart loved more than anything was clean sheets and so he wanted to have that as one of his surprises for her. He just didn't want to mess it all up, so what temperature should he wash them at, should he wash them together and what heat should he dry them? Honestly, at first I thought he was going to ask me for quarters and I was debating what my answer would be.
 So the Bedding Guy and I started talking as he seemed open to talking and very kind hearted. We talked about all kinds of things including kind people and how they're rather hit and miss in this area. Then a man who only dried his clothes began to talk to me. He was a driving instructor named Bill who taught in my city. I learned some interesting driving tips from him, but mostly that you have to drive defensively AND aggressively here otherwise you'll get hit and honked at. And you have to watch out for the red light runners. Evidently they're everywhere. 

All in all, a very talkative day in the laundromat. Such kind and caring men. A little odd that I find the men here more caring and open to talking than the women. (But that's not just at the laundromat). I had to go back into the laundromat after I was done and starting up my car because I hadn't talked to the B.G and wished him good luck with his bedding washing and his anniversary.
And he thanked me again. (!) 

Feel free to come back in another 2 weeks or sooner 

and hear 

about another edition!