Here’s a little story about
what can typically occur on a day at sea.
I usually do my laundry on port days for this very reason.
After my regular date with
the treadmill and elliptical machine this morning, I figured it was time to
throw in a load of wash. By 10:45, we
had everything that was remotely worth washing sorted and ready to go. I skipped across the hall to find the laundry
room still quiet and washers were readily available. I quickly threw in my darks, a squeeze of
liquid laundry detergent, and carefully placed my eight American quarters into
the slots before starting the machine with a ka-ching. I hurried back to
the room to make best use of the other washer still not in use and repeated the
process. I synchronized my watch with
the washer and went back to the room for 30 minutes of reading and relaxing. When I returned, right on time, a sweet, yet
anxious couple (here after named Sweet and Anxious) promptly asked me if that was
my wash in the machine and that it had just finished. I mean, they were ready to jump into my
laundry that held everything from Bill’s Jockeys to my more delicate
untouchables in hopes to find some sort of I.D. on the labels like we were in
camp! I happily gathered my clothing
from the washer to make way for the couple.
My load of whites and lights had also just finished, so I cleared way
once again, this time for two rather pushy and demanding ladies (here after
named Pushy and Demanding) who had clearly announced that they were next in
line. The laundry room was quickly
becoming busier than the Horizon Court buffet at lunch time! I quietly collected my two armloads of damp
clothes to sort things out in the privacy and comfort of our room.
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| Thankful that I don't have to save my coins for this every day. |
After sorting, I realized
there were enough shirts and shorts to throw into one of the dryers to warrant
the $2 (both dryers were empty when I left).
I hustled back to the conveniently located laundry room, which by now
was humid, hot and very active. Every
one of the eight other people in there was edgy, obviously because they would
prefer to be on the sun deck or at the Horizon Court than in a cramped jail
cell reminding them of the responsibilities of home! One of the two dryers on my side was already
occupied, so I started for the last dryer.
Pushy and Demanding quite clearly informed me that it was THEIR dryer
and they had it reserved. Being
Canadian, I quickly apologized, and as tactfully as possible, asked why they
weren’t running it then. It turned out
their washer had another 15 minutes before being done and they wanted THEIR
dryer, too. Again, very politely, I said
that I would be happy to take my things out just as soon as their wash was
finished. Feeling like my clothes could
land on the floor if I turned my back, I stayed put in what was now a hot and
steamy sauna with at least a dozen people standing guard by their clothes,
washers and dryers. This was also a good
opportunity to observe others, their actions and their behaviours (wink).
What shook down in the next
10 minutes caused for me to be thankful that I was finished my morning
chores. Sweet and Anxious returned to
find their wash was done and they were informed by Pushy and Demanding that it
had been done for quite some time and people were waiting, you know. They pulled out their wash because there was
already a rather tall gentleman standing a hair’s breadth behind them ready to
move in. They were frantically searching
for a much needed dryer to use. Pushy and
Demanding laid claim on both of the dryers in our section (one being
mine). This poor couple were at a
loss. Again, in my endeavor to show how
Canadians try to make everyone happy, I offered for them to use mine until
Pushy and Demanding’s wash was finished as it still was not even in the final
spin cycle. In my mind, I paid for that
dryer and if my clothes were finished and their wash wasn’t, I could share my
time with anyone I wanted. Sweet
expressed her gratitude while Anxious just stood there shaking his head at how
some people can act, even away from the pressures of home, but then again, we
don’t know their story and what made these ladies to behave the way they
did.
What do I have to say about
it? You are on vacation, people! For crying out loud, enjoy yourselves, help
each other and get along.