I really don't ask for much in life - my needs are pretty simple. Occasionally, I will ask a member (who shall remain nameless) of my family for a small favour - usually involving laundry. Sounds simple, right? That's what I thought.
Picture this: the first time I asked him to help with the laundry, as I had to work that evening, my instructions were simply this: "Please do not put my TOPS in the dryer. Please hang them up so they don't shrink." I thought this was pretty easy follow. When I got home that evening, I discovered that apparently, sweaters, weren't considered "tops". As a result, my nice fuchsia Tommy Hilfiger sweater that I got at a screaming deal in Las Vegas, now fits my 15 year old daughter. I asked him where sweaters are usually worn. He said "on top". I rest my case - therefore should be considered a "top". I promptly made a note to myself NOT to ask him to put anything considered delicate from the washer to the dryer.
The next time I asked for assistance, I figured, OK, he should be able to do this task. After all, this is a guy with a degree in history and a degree in marketing. No sweat. He was asked to remove the clothes from the dryer, so they didn't get wrinkled, because, next to vacuuming, I really detest ironing, and let's face it, not too many people actually iron anymore. I then received a phone call at work, asking me what should be done with the clothes, now that they were out of the dryer. I jokingly said that he had two choices - he could either fold them, or leave them on the bed and I would fold them when I got home at 12:30 at night. Guess where the clothes were - you got it - on the bed, still in the basket, waiting for me to fold them! He may as well have left them in the dryer, because they got wrinkled anyway. Made another note to myself to remember to make sure he knows how to fold clothes.
This past Sunday before I left for work, I again gave instructions for the washer and dryer (since neither were finished their cycles before I left) for the load that was in the washer to be put in the dryer. Believe it or not, I actually get a phone call at work asking me what should be done with the clothes that were currently in the dryer. Huh?! I was too stunned to say anything and then I tried not to laugh. I told him that he could either take the clothes out of the dryer and put the wet ones in, or just shove all of the wet clothes in with the dry ones and run the cycle again!
I am finally realizing that since I write a blog, screenplays and correct and revise legal documents at work, I might as well add a "dryer instruction manual" to the mix, because it seems like I need one. Although I do get the feeling that this might be deliberate, to get out of having to do it. In any event, it seems as though my husband of 21 years is domestically challenged!
