Looper Laundry Lady

I have told you about some interesting quirks we have discovered about each other, and some of our Looper friends, as we circled the loop.  You might remember the story about the Pump Out Queen, or the Bilge Bitch, to name a couple.  Well, I finally feel brave enough to tell this one…

Looper Laundry Lady

It is well known in our family that Carrie actually loves doing laundry…or at least it seems that way to the kids, dogs and me.  She is always right on top of it and can be found many afternoons sitting in front of the big TV in our family room folding clothes and watching Ellen or some old movie.  It’s not that she likes TV, far from it, she watches very little other than when she’s sitting there folding clothes, almost in a blissful state.   After Leo moved away he actually would drop by with a load or two (or six), and darn if she wouldn’t usually take care of it for him!

Well, on the Loop her fixation with laundry has been even more pronounced.  Almost the first thing she checks out at every marina we visit is the laundry facilities.  Even if she did all the laundry in the marina we just left that morning!  She says, “Well, you just never know.”  She even rates them.  I think you can earn the top rating only if there are at least three washers and three dryers.  But, other criteria enter the discussion as well.

For example, how expensive is each machine.  This can go from $2.00 per load down to (unusual, but not unheard of) free.  Also, the size of the units is taken into the consideration.  Naturally, the distance you have to carry your wash from the boat to the facility is part of the calculation.  Cleanliness of the laundry room, dry time, air conditioning…there are just countless variables.  She has even noted the manufacturer of her favorite washers and dryers and promises to replace the ones at home!

Here she is in a "2 Star" (our of 5) Laundry

Once, Doug (from Moonstruck) and I started teasing our First Mates because they were actually raving about a Laundromat back in Michigan. Undeterred, they began to exaggerate their claim.  “Well, there was even a buffet lunch”, said one of them.  “And the Chippendales came by for a performance”, lied the other.  Doug and I just shook our heads the way they do when we stop by West Marine just for a visit.

Now, as I mentioned above, my First Mate is not alone on this eccentricity.  I’m pretty sure there is actually a Looper underground pipeline that goes from boat to boat via the Admirals.  You can see them whispering and rolling their eyes or getting excited if conditions are great.  But, although they cooperate with the information, once in port it’s every First Mate for herself, as they try to beat the others to the laundry room.

Now, I know some of you out there are thinking, why is it her job?  Well, that issue was settled between us many years ago, when I ruined several of her favorite items trying to "help".  A guy’s laundry just gets thrown in, washed, dried and (maybe) folded.  There is much more to hers.  “Oh, that blouse gets only cold…the bras don’t go in the dryer…don’t use Downey on the towels…NEVER wash the pink stuff with the white, and on and on and on.  I never could seem to keep all that stuff straight.

Bottom line, I really appreciate everything she does…and this is no exception.  So, you ask, what do I mean by now I am finally “brave enough” to tease her about this, when it has been going on all throughout the last year.  Well, frankly, she just did three loads and is all caught up.  We only have a couple more weeks on the water and our Loop will be complete.  At this point, if my Looper Laundry Lady takes this badly and goes on strike, I think I have enough clothes to last the duration!