At Last, Her Laundry’s Done: Mary Price

Posted At : October 10, 2008 1:00 AM
Related Categories: Personal Narratives

Click here for audio.

This is an excerpt from "At Last, Her Laundry's Done" by Kathleen Norris, which originally appeared in The Cloister Walk, published by Penguin Books.

Read by Mary Price: "Isn't life really about discovering how all the content of our daily lives -- even the most simple tasks -- can be sources of joy and empowerment?" Mary is a management consultant, strategic coach, and corporate trainer. She also has over 20 years experience in the field of multicultural training and development as well as experience facilitating strategic planning processes. Mary is the owner of Mary C. Price & Associates, LLC, a consulting practice.

In "At Last, Her Laundry's Done," author Kathleen Norris writes:

"Laundry seems to have an almost religious importance for many women. We groan about the drudgery but seldom talk about the secret pleasure we feel at being able to make dirty things clean, especially the clothes of our loved ones.... Laundry is one of the very few tasks in life that offers instant results, and this is nothing to sneer at. ... In any city slum, it's laundry -- neat lines of babies' T-shirts, kids' underwear and jeans -- that announces that families live here, and that someone cares.

We may be businesswomen or professors, but it's hard to shake that urge to do laundry ‘the right way,' just like Mama did."

Comments (1)

Send

Download

Comments

[Add Comment]

She is so talking about me! After a long work week, one of the first things I tackle at home is the laundry, scream at everyone home to bring
down their dirty clothes now or wait a week. I sort them in their appropriate piles, after turning everything inside out, and begin my battle plan:
Whites in hot water, followed by delicate whites in cold water, dark colors in cold water, light colors, dark colors, jeans/pants, and if time permits,
blankets/throws or bathroom rugs. I wash them, sort them in the living room, and it is my daughters' job to sort into baskets and take them
upstairs. If that's all I do all weekend, which we all know is just the beginning, I feel I have accomplished something important. My kitchen floors
may need to be washed, my carpets may need to be vaccuumed, but if the laundry is done (and there's nothing on the floor), I've done my job!
I earned my housewife salary (a cup of coffee and a smile, maybe even a "Thanks, Mom").

# Posted By Mary | 10/10/08 4:28 AM

[Add Comment]