never have i been a fan of dishwashers. there's something so soothing about washing dishes by hand. i like everything about it - the hot water, the suds, the smell of clean, the inability to do anything else because hands are submerged and wet. i love the colors and patterns of the dishtowels flung over my shoulder even though i always air-dry. i can pack a dish drainer a foot high with a sculpture of sparkling cups, plates, bowls, and glasses and never have it so much as shift. i scour a pan and shine its copper bottom til it gleams. i hum or whistle as i clean and remember childhood days when my sister and i would harmonize camp songs as we washed and dried. this time for water-play, for looking out the window, for replaying of the day's events, and daydreaming of tomorrow - that's what you miss when you run a dishwasher. that and the feel of shea butter lotion luxuriously rubbed into water-weary hands.
30 December 2009
doing the dishes
never have i been a fan of dishwashers. there's something so soothing about washing dishes by hand. i like everything about it - the hot water, the suds, the smell of clean, the inability to do anything else because hands are submerged and wet. i love the colors and patterns of the dishtowels flung over my shoulder even though i always air-dry. i can pack a dish drainer a foot high with a sculpture of sparkling cups, plates, bowls, and glasses and never have it so much as shift. i scour a pan and shine its copper bottom til it gleams. i hum or whistle as i clean and remember childhood days when my sister and i would harmonize camp songs as we washed and dried. this time for water-play, for looking out the window, for replaying of the day's events, and daydreaming of tomorrow - that's what you miss when you run a dishwasher. that and the feel of shea butter lotion luxuriously rubbed into water-weary hands.
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9 comments:
ah yes. i have succumbed to the efficiency of the dishwasher, but after reading this, i just may do a few loads by hand again. no one to harmonize with, however. too bad one can't sing in parts, alone.
nan
when that happens now, i just harmonize in my head. it's not great - but it works.
I would love to come and harmonize with you.. i think i can still do it..shod-dop-an- dobby-do..in the stil of the night.. happy new year chris love you!
I remember people asking my parent why they never bought a dishwasher. My dad's answer: "I've already got 3!" (as in 3 daughters, now that it's just him and my mom he does the dished he's ready to reconsider the dishwasher thing, but my mom isn't)
The only time I ever enjoyed doing the dishes was as a teenager during the early 90s. My parents used to have a big dinner or lunch or brunch with friends over almost every weekend and guess who always got KP? Yup, the 3 of us. But since most weekends one of our best friends was usually with us (an only child, age between my sister and myself) that made four of us. So we'd roll up our sleeves, pull straws for washing/rinsing/drying/putting away duties, and have at it with gusto! Usually quoting bits and pieces of Mafalda to each other and cracking up (while trying not to crack any plates).
Now I don't mind doing dishes as much as I used to, unless of course I'm home again with my sisters, and then the age-old discussion of "who's turn it is" to do the unpleasant chore makes it all seem like more of a drag. But given the choice I'll wash and leave the drying and putting away to someone else! ;o)
I am new to your blog and this entry really struck a cord with me. I remember doing dishes as a kid and when I do them now, by hand, I love the feeling of accomplishment I get when the soapy water chugs down the drain.
Enjoy your blogs about your experiences up north, while down here in Texas we feel cold at 45 degrees, like tonight.
Come over and check out my blog, I always like to get feedback from other posters.
Have a great evening.
Truth Ferret
I have always thought the same sentiments ever since I was given the job at the tender age of 10. I thought it was extremely unfair at first, but then loved the day dreaming time I would get. My husband offers to wash the dishes but this is a chore that I covet - it's much easier than the bathrooms. :)
I hate washing dishes. lol Thanks goodess my apartment has one. I don't think I would have rented it had it been missing. lol
I hate dishwashers! I think it's better to hand wash them. dishwashers disgust me. and they smell weird.
Doing the dishes together as kids was one of the only joint activities I had with my 18 months younger brother. Though we both hated it at the time, when I think back on my childhood relationship with him it is one of the most vivid and happy memories I have! We were the oldest of the bunch and, let's face it, we should have willingly jumped up after every meal and offered to take on the job. We really owed to it to Dad, who had worked all day at the office, and Mother, who had her hands full with a slew of kids and three meals a day prepare. But we quietly hoped, as each dinnertime was winding down, that somehow we'd wriggle out of the dining room and no one would call us back. It did sometimes happen, after all. But most nights found us at the sink with the mountain of dirty dishes. First negotiation. Who would wash, who would dry? We never seemed to be able to settle on that easily. The washer always thought the dryer had the easier job, and I shamefully recall that both of us were guilty of rinsing the dishes in ICE COLD tap water to deliberately make the drying more work!! What little devils! Though there were calls to the living room for Mother's arbitration, most times we were told to work it out ourselves and I think that's what makes the memory a happy one. As we matured we learned to work as a team and actually help each other, and we found how satisfying that can be. An important life lesson and something that, in the end, helped create the family bond that all parents wish to instill.
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