I’m certain I’m reincarnated from 1910 England…or at least
an earlier era. There are certain odd
things I feel a sense of profound connection to, an attraction that seems to
go deeper than simply liking something.
And as I say, these things I’m attached to are odd.
Clothelines are an example.
The clotheslines I’m attracted to must be old-fashioned –
the wooden “T” shape frame on both ends with rope strung across in a rectangle
shape. (The modern 1950’s circle affair
made of aluminum has absolutely no draw for me.)
One of my favorite sights is white sheets blowing in the
wind on the clothesline….and one of my favorite smells is those same sheets
when taken inside from the line. The
sound of the sheets whipping in the wind on the line makes me happy and
comforted. It’s the sight, the sound,
the smell – that’s when you know you’ve deeply connected.
And they can’t be patterned sheets on the
line but white sheets – crisp, clean, fresh.
I imagine the cotton bag holding the clothespins – wooden, of
course, and preferably not the clip kind but the old fashioned slim line ones
that look like a little man called clothespegs – round head with no features, 2 legs, simple
Shaker-like design. Designed and created
according to what works best.
The
laundry basket must be old and wicker, never a Rubbermaid bucket which may be
practical but can’t cut it for my vision.
There is a certain feeling of productivity and industry in
seeing laundry drying outdoors. Someone has
washed it for the family and taken the time to hang it on the line. She will then take it down, fold it, iron it
for her family to wear again.
In college, there was a short story I read as an English
major that has haunted me my entire life.
I don’t know why it lingers with me. It was about a
woman ironing. She recounted her life and throughout the story said.... “as
I stood ironing.” It was the act of
standing there, quietly ironing, that made her think, remember and reflect
on her life.
Household chores can put us in a meditative state – sweeping a floor,
chopping vegetables, washing dishes by hand…and hanging clothes outside on a
line in the sunshine, fresh air, and gentle summer breeze.
There
is something to be said for simple physical tasks, done in silence, as a sort
of meditation to calm us…getting us away from cell phones, computers, and the
noise of our lives.
Photos selected from pinterest.com/lschrenk/clotheslines-old-fashioned
I was introduced to 3 beautiful new websites....
#1 "miss the simple life" mybluecanoe.tumblr.com
#2 "linen on the line - perfect" from laylagrayce.com
#3 "clothespegs" lestroischouettes.tumblr.com
