Laundry

Some things really stink – or I should say – don’t stink these days; my laundry.  It doesn’t smell like a sweaty boy.  I don’t need to open the laundry room window for fresh air.  Chris’s clothes aren’t filling the three bay hamper.  I hate that.

I miss the chore of washing all his big clothes.  Chris wore XL or XXL.   His shorts could fit two of me inside the waistband with room to spare.  It didn’t take but three or four pairs and a couple tee shirts and that was a full load for the washer.  Now I don’t have much and it’s done quickly.

Chris’s laundry basket never has anything in it anymore.  I used to grab its contents by the armload from time to time when I passed his room because I knew if it sat too long it would make his room smell (worse than it already did).  I would toss his dirty clothes over the railing down to the bottom floor and once I got downstairs I’d pick it all up and sort it into the appropriate laundry bin.   I want that dirty laundry again.  I want to take a peek in his hamper and pluck out his stinky clothes. I want to unwrap his balled up socks and flip his shirts right side out.  I want to once again wrinkle up my face at him and say ”ewwww” like I used to when he’d be sitting on his bed playing Xbox.  He’d do that eye roll thing at me and shrug his shoulders.

I’d pretend it had cooties and that it grossed me out.  Truly, I didn’t mind.  There’s nothing nicer than taking care of my boys.  Thank God I still have Jeremy’s laundry to wash and fold until he goes back to school.  I check his basket as I did Chris’s and take things out by the arm full.  Thankfully he doesn’t object.

During football season Chris and I had a rule… he did his own football uniform on game nights.  It wasn’t because I didn’t want to do it but because he got home after I was already in bed and those nasty clothes could not live in his equipment bag overnight… they smelled too bad and were loaded with sweaty bacteria.  So, he literally dropped his dirt stained clothes off in the garage, on the floor, yanked the pads out of the pants, pulled off the belt and carried everything into the laundry room. He would toss it all in the washer and in the morning I’d change it over to the dryer.  It seemed to work out fine for us.

Many times I’d be sound asleep but awaken to hear the rush of the water filling the washer.  “Chris is home” I’d think to myself and conk back out.  Sigh.

He used to leave his cleats and shoulder pads outside the front door so they could air out too… OMG were they fragrant.  Yuck.  I think the smell was even too much for him sometimes!  I used to get annoyed because I’d trip on them if I wasn’t looking when I went out the front door.  Now I’d like to take a header if only they were in the way once again.  His cleats now live in his room on his window seat.   

I can’t possibly trip over them even by accident anymore and his shoulder pads belong to SHEN so those won’t be in my way anymore either.

Interestingly enough, I just so happened to stumble upon a new favorite laundry detergent in November.  Couldn’t have been two years ago in November, had to be the month before Chris passed.  Go figure.  But, I did find a new one that I like a lot and it doesn’t require laundry softener too… Just one pour and that’s it.  I’ll share in case you want to try it, it’s my new favorite and I like buying it because it reminds me of Chris.  Tide Sport with Febreeze.  It will make your stinkiest clothes fresh.  Wish I had been turned on to it sooner.  I used to go thru bottles and bottles of cheap fabric softener before.  I sound like a commercial… but I'm not getting paid for that endorsement.
 

Well, I wish you happy laundry washing day.  I envy you.  Yes, I know you might be thinking “Hey Regina come on over and do OUR laundry if you’re looking for a chore!”  Well, thanks but no… I only want to do this family’s laundry but you go ahead and do yours with a smile on your face.  And next time you shop grab some Tide or at least consider smiling at it as you pass it by in the store.  Seek it out on the shelf and say hello to Christopher if you would.  It would mean a lot to me.

Thank you for reading.