Better Laundry

Living in my grandparents' home often times leaves an ache deep inside me for my childhood. I want so badly to go back. Taking baths in a giant metal washtub with my cousins, sharing the one bicycle kept in the shed. Being stung nearly to death by bees in the very same shed. Climbing the huge old tree in the side yard so high that I thought I could touch the clouds. My grandfather taking me in his bedroom and giving me half a stick of Wrigley's gum from his dresser drawer. Watching Hee-Haw with my sweet grandmother while eating molasses popcorn. Looking with wonder at the dozens and dozens of home canned peaches, tomatoes, beans and jam lined up so neatly on shelves in the basement. And the scary mask my grandfather hung on the low pipe in the basement so no one would hit their head.

It was in this vain that I recently asked Hubby to pick up a laundry line for the old laundry posts in the side yard. We took down the line 11 years ago when we moved in, but I never could bring myself to tear down the posts. I am so glad we didn't. Yesterday Taylor, Cornell and Conway walked a basket of laundry outside with me and helped me hang it all on the line. They were so excited to do something new, especially since I told them stories of the great grandmother and great grandfather they were never to meet. We all had to help to hang a huge white tablecloth with flowers embroidered all over it. Conway kept running clothespins over to us. And Cornell had to stand on tiptoe to reach. But, together we hung it all. Towels, washclothes, even some clothes. Taylor even asked me how you run through the laundry on the line. Something no kid should miss out on in life. The kids were so excited this morning that they ran to the line with a laundry basket. Taylor and Cornell brought it all in and I folded it. It had that crunchy feeling I hadn't felt since I was the one running through my grandmother's laundry on the line 30 years ago. I pressed my face in it and breathed deeply. I guess even for a brief moment, you can go back.