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Thoughts from the Laundromat – The Great Equalizer
Recently we moved. With seven bodies in our house, boxes are not our friend. So, like the Tasmanian Devil, I (and my forced labor) tore into those things and put everything away in three days. Still, a few straggling issues remain. And a few unexpected issues arose.
Like our sweet wonderful dryer. Our faithful friend for well over ten years has accompanied us through two moves (please let this be the LAST!) and dried well over … okay, I can’t begin to imagine how many loads of wet laundry. Somewhere in this move, our drier must of misunderstood its unplugging as a get-out-of-jail-free card. I think it’s gone on to a happier, less strenuous place.
Maybe not. Maybe there’s still a little life in our friend. The repairman has been summoned, but our clothes continue to dirty. And, what’s a large family to do?
The Laundromat is your 
For today’s Table Talk, I thought I’d share a couple notes I’ve gotten. One from a friend who is single, sans kids of her own but aunt to a few. She totally inspired me, so I asked if she would let me share so she can inspire you, too. … I’ve also included a crazy great story from a MOAT in Florida. Another dose of inspiration to solidify the fact that kids can do so much more than they (or we… if we can just keep our hands off) think.
Thanks for the stories … and thanks for walking the road with me.
-Kay
Hi Kay – I just watched your segment on 
Nothing like moving to get your summer started off with a bang. Well actually to get your summer started exhausted. Exhausted and eager to purge … and reflective. Reflective and sappy.
Seriously. Upon opening boxes (or “packages” as Jack so positively saw them) and unearthing long lost (hidden in some closet or under a bed) treasures, I could almost hear Barbara Streisand crooning Memories from the other side of the room. Many “misty, watercolor memories” came back to life as I held tattered projects, yellowed photos and I’m-so-glad-I-saved-these in my hands.
Pictures. Such fun photos of the kids when they were little, when they were learning to ride bikes, when they were sleeping. And so many rolls of film that haven’t had developed. Then I realized – okay, so it was brought to my attention by a certain last child, 
You know you’re ready for summer when sitting outside Michaels waiting for a kid to emerge from her search for end of the year project necessities feels like a beach moment.
When a shady parking spot, a strong breeze blowing in through open windows and the hum of Central Expressway traffic sounds like waves rolling in from a distant ocean actually induces dozing, I think it’s fair to say – someone needs a vacation.
“YAAHHH!!!!” pops errand girl from below my window. After laughing at me jumping out of my skin and screaming, she added, “Were you asleep?”
Her sister chimed in, “Maawwwmmm!!! That is so embarrassing.”
Embarrassing?! What does she mean, embarrassing? Clearly I’m tired. And how rude to abruptly end my moment. I could almost see the cabana boy at hand, ready to bring me a cool and refreshing drink. 
First things first … I have been completely missing in action and I apologize. We moved (okay, still moving) last week. I can’t imaging why it has consumed my life the last 10 days, but I feel like I’ve been running in quick sand. Maybe it had something to do with our kids getting out of school.
For those of you in the throws of end of the year stuff, you know what I’m sayin’. My goodness, back and forth and back and forth to school, to home, to Office Depot for some last minute project, to Michaels for costume design (why does end of the school year seem to always require themed garb?!), to Lowes, to Walmart, to Sam’s … need I go on. My candle has been seriously burning at both ends. So the cyber world got back burnered. … It didn’t help that Jon was out of town.
But everything is getting 
On a plane, I was recently inspired by American Way Magazine. Apparently, I am a complete and total sap. I might have wiped a tear from my eye reading the stories.
So here you go … some fuel for your equipping tanks lest our kids (or we) think that everything in life comes easy. It involves hard work – and often failure!
The first is from Kurt Warner who has been tapped to host USA Network’s first reality show, The Moment. Because “life is full of opportunities to try again.” [see also: don’t give up, if you fall get up, keep striving even when dreams seem ridiculously out of reach.]
If you aren’t familiar with Kurt’s story, check it out. This Super-Bowl-ring-wearing young man was for sure the poster child for “Least Likely. ” But even while working the graveyard shift stocking groceries, he never gave up his dream.
“You 
Last week I walked made my way up the stairs after a very long day. Mid-way up, I heard a couple brothers giggle-scramble to the shower, like I wouldn’t figure out that they had been goofing around rather than tending to their business. But as I ascended the last step, my ears were greeted by a different sound, the sweetest of sounds.
And I posted on FB. “I know few things that warm my heart like coming upstairs to hear the muffled sound of a 14 yo girl strumming Somewhere Over the Rainbow on her pink ukulele. Do you think she would mind me opening her door and joining in with singing? … Yeah, probably not a good idea.”
I thoroughly enjoy entering the picture with a rousing song, especially some impromptu harmony. My kids find me annoying. I like to think I’m making memories for them.
My friend Natalie commented on the FB share, 