Don’t you love it when you get those aha moments in your life?  I just had one such moment, when I was doing laundry of all things!  As I was putting the clothes into the dryer I realized that I was now doing it exactly the way Melitas showed me how to do it.  Yep, just like my driving I guess I never knew how to do laundry either until she showed me.  I would just transfer the clothes into the dryer in one big clump and turn on the dryer and go about my business.

It worked for all these years and I didn’t see a problem, no one complained, my clothes were always just as clean as the next person…the problem came several years ago when I was the Jr. Deputy at Casa Agave.  It was December of 2011, the warden was off having a great time with family and Melitas and I were enjoying our week together and then….(dramatic music playing) I started my laundry.  As soon as I took my laundry into the laundry room I hear Melitas come in behind me.  Our conversation went something like this:

Me: I am just going to do my laundry real quickly, you go sit down and relax, I can figure out the machine.

Melitas: You know I used to own a fluff and fold, remember?

Me: Yep, that must have been a lot of laundry (me throwing things in…)

Melitas: Hold up, that’s not how you do it, fill the machine with water and the suds first before you add your clothes.

Me: Does it really make a difference to do it that way?

Melitas: See this shirt?  I have had this since 1963, the year before you were born, it wouldn’t look this way if I did the wash the way you are doing it.  How old is that shirt you are wearing?

Me: Ummm, I don’t know a year maybe?

Melitas: Looks like it will be ready for the rag pile if you keep it up.

[Melitas scoots me over and begins the process of adding the detergent, then some dreft, then something else I can’t quite remember.  Then placing what would have been one load into two and sorts them by color.  I keep trying to say, it is ok, I can do it.  But no use. I have to just let her finish]

30 Minutes later Melitas is on her computer across from me on my computer and the washer stops, I get up to go put my clothes in the dryer and I turn around and before I make it to the laundry room door there she is breathing down my back.

Me: Melitas, I am just going to put them in the dryer, I can do this part. (Feeling nervous but knowing I can’t get it wrong just putting the clothes in the dryer, how hard can that be?).

Melitas: Hold up….that’s not how you put the clothes in the dryer!  You can’t just throw them in like you are doing, now step aside.

Me: (I have learned by now it is Melitas’ way or no way)

Melitas: Listen kid, you take one piece at a time and shake it out and then put it in the dryer.  It saves energy and your clothes will dry faster.

Me: Awww, yes,  I see. (looking at my watch knowing what would have taken me 2 minutes we are still in the laundry room 10 minutes later).

To be honest with you, the next 6 plus years I did laundry my way.  I was just too darn busy to sort and shake and whatever else she did.  But today I noticed I no longer am in a hurry.  I take each piece out of the washer and shake it out before putting it in the dryer.

I know that Melitas, if she is looking down at me is smiling at me and saying:” It’s about time, kid!  I knew one day you would know I was right!”