Crazy in our lives
One of my favorite things in the world is hearing and telling stories. It's really what I live for. And through life some stories really stick with you. Some day, I will group them into collections and publish them: best traditions, best family travelogues, greatest disgusting or horrific stories, saddest stories and so on. One category that I especially love revolves around the plain old crazy that occurs in every day life and that people become so accustomed to that they no longer view it as different or odd.
One story that has stayed with me since I heard it often comes to me as I wash dishes. Years ago a friend told me that her mother-in-law would use her nice china for events, parties and such, and rather than washing them when done, she would "wipe them off" and put them back in the cabinet until the next event. Only then would she wash them properly in the sink with soap and water. The apparent logic here is that - on occasion - when dishes sit in the cabinet for some time they need washing before you can use them. Rather than wash them twice, this ingenious woman skipped the first washing altogether.
Before telling me the story, my friend asked me to let her know if what I was about to hear was at all odd. I'm guessing that my reaction after the story answered her question. I asked about bugs and mice and caked on food and bugs and mice again. I asked what "wiping off" meant. And then I grilled her about the overall hygiene of the house and this woman. Needless to say I was flabbergasted. I had met this woman in public before, and she was a true and proper Southern belle so this image of her with dirty dishes lurking in the cabinet just did not fit.
I still speak with this friend from time to time, and I keep meaning to ask her whether this tradition continues. But in keeping with the crazy that we no longer notice, I am a bit nervous that my friend has adopted the family way, and frankly, I'd rather not know about that.
posted by Tree Huggin' Bacon Luvin' @ 7:57 AM
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