Saturday, May 2, 2020

Wash day


Imagine people in face masks shuffling and reshuffling their positions in a laundry room that serves a twenty-one story apartment building, everyone endeavoring to maintain six feet of social distance. You'd be surprised at how unrecognizable your neighbors are when their faces are covered, and how hot those face coverings are. And since washer-dryer repair isn’t an essential service, seven weeks into New York City’s quarantine, a third of the washing machines and a third of the dryers aren't working, and no one has been called to fix them.

Eventually we might be washing our clothes in the sinks and tubs of our apartments, and feeling lucky that we have soap and running water to do so. Till then, people wait around for other people's wash cycles to finish, counting down the minutes, and then wait for their neighbors to show up and remove their clothes, and it feels as if we're living in the aftermath of a nuclear explosion, when just going outside your front door means risking your life, except it really does mean that. The minute you step outside your door, you're less safe from covid than you were before.

Each morning when I open my eyes, the first thing I do is survey myself for symptoms. I say a prayer of thanks when I find that I feel completely normal, that the sore throat I thought was coming on the night before has not in fact manifested itself.

My son tested negative for the antibodies. "It's weird to be disappointed you don't have them," he said. "Still, it means the protective measures we take are working." He said he didn't know when next he would see us. "It might not be till the fall," he said. "It might not be till next year." At least he is healthy. Tomorrow is my birthday. The only gift I want is for all of us to be healthy. Amen.


23 comments:

  1. All of these feelings yes. Happy birthday dear one. I’m glad your son is healthy is okay. How terrible to not be able to see him.Love
    Rebecca

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  2. Happy Birthday! I have much to be grateful for during this pandemic. I am still getting a paycheck and am able to do my teaching job on-line, more or less, and my loved ones are well. You bring up the one thing that scares me the most doing laundry in my buildings laundry room. I told my granddaughter that she must shower every day,even though she is going nowhere because we aren't going to be washing very often and we can do our underwear in the sink. It finally occurred to me that I can drive up my school in CT and do my laundry there. I haven't done it yet but I think it is a good option.

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  3. Amen.

    When you evoked the image of the aftermath of a nuclear explosion in the context of wash day, I thought again of Jacob Lawrences' Hiroshima series. As the COVID-19 situation has unfolded, those images have been part of my recent perceptions.

    Your son's antibody test has been on my mind. His words regarding testing negative I will hold close to my heart, "Still, it means the protective measures we take are working."

    I've also been thinking about your comment that President Kennedy's assassination was a childhood moment that made a deep impression on you and how September 11, 2001, was the experience that set the course for your son's life.

    May your birthday be peaceful. May the coming year bring the gift of health to all of us. Sending love.

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  4. May we all be here to wish you happy birthday this time next year!

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  5. Thank you for your birthday wishes on my blog, my birthday twin. You brought tears to my eyes, but good ones. May you have a happy day despite not being able to see your son; it will be the same here, just my husband and me. I hope in a year's time things will be different - in a good way, that is. Happy birthday, my friend.

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  6. Happy Birthday and may your wish come true!

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  7. Doesn't anyone have their own clothes wash machine? Here in UK it would be most odd not to......even in apartment blocks I am sure they would all have their own! In some TV soaps it seems no one has a machine, but I think that is because it just gives the writers another place for the characters to meet up ! Glad to hear that your brave boy is still OK. x

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  8. Happy birthday! It's great news that your son remains uninfected -- as he said, that shows how effective their safety measures are. I can only imagine what it's like to have to deal with a laundry room now -- it seems like washing machine repair SHOULD be an essential service. You definitely don't want to have to go out to a laundromat!

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  9. Happy Birthday! Like you, my birthday wish for you is that you and your family stay safe. Stay healthy. And perhaps one more: may the washers and dryers all get repaired soon!

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  10. Happy Birthday to you, and I'm glad you and your family are all healthy. Here in the UK we may be coming out of lockdown next month, but I think most people are too scared to go back to work etc.

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  11. Happy birthday, sweet woman! And knowing your son is healthy has to be the best gift of all. I know that there will be other gifts, though, and I hope that your day is as perfect as it can be under these circumstances. What a strange time we're living in but the most genuine things remain unchanged. The love your family has for each other being the main one. I hope there is cake and I hope there is basking in that love.

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  12. Happy happy birthday! I love your birthday wish. Yes, may we all stay well and healthy. I am so glad your son is staying healthy. He is my faraway hero in real life. Enjoy your day today and celebrate in all the ways you can.

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  13. A very happy birthday. When I was young, a member of a family of 15, OMG, for our birthdays we got to choose what the family would have for supper. Mine was always fried chicken, one of my older sisters used to want Sauerkraut and franks. What would you choose?

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  14. Happy Birthday to you! It must be hard to hear those words that you may not see him until fall or next year. I am amazed (happily) that he tested negative. To be surrounded by coworkers and going on calls and not have picked it up. Wow, I'm so happy to hear that - good for him for being so careful with the processes in place to keep him safe. Maybe he continue to be safe and healthy...same for your whole family!

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  15. Happy Birthday and I hope you get the gift you want, health for all your family.

    I would hate doing laundry with all those other people. I like having my laundry just off the kitchen.

    I guess it's good that your son tested negative, maybe? My husband thinks we should plan a holiday for September but I don't think September is going to be much better. Hopefully I'm wrong.

    And hopefully you're having a lovely day filled with good food and good company.

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  16. Happy birthday dear R!I'm hoping that you will get to see your son sooner rather than later. Very happy he tested negative, hope he remains healthy.
    It's so surreal celebrating a birthday during this crises, hope it's a wonderful as possible. Much love.
    Xoxo
    Barbara

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  17. Laundry was the bane of our existence when we were RVing. And that was without Covid-19. I truly hope you see your son before this fall, that's a long time. Happy birthday to you.

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  18. Wishing you a happy birthday. Forget the virus and enjoy your day and the yummy cake. Try to delight in the small things - this, for me, seems to help. I can't believe that it is impossible to get washing machines serviced. This seems pretty important, especially in a large building serving many people. Your son's protective gear plus his strong healthy immune system are protecting him. This is great news. Stay well and be safe, Susan

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  19. I hope that you get everything you want and more. I hope there's been cake. I'm sending you so much love and happiness and congratulations for another year on the earth.

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  20. Happy birthday. life is so different now. I am so grateful for where I live and have my own washer and dryer. things are breaking down and I don't just mean machines. but I am so glad your son is healthy, and yeah, ironic to be disappointed in the results of a test (unless of course he tested positive for the virus). antibodies good, virus bad.

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  21. May your birthday wish be true. Seems like a very odd time to have a birthday -- and mine is next month. No doubt I will be spending it alone. I'll pick up a piece of cake at the grocer when I'm out. I'm glad your son is healthy; a huge relief. Happy Birthday and very warm wishes.

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  22. Belated happy birthday. May you find health and happiness in these new times. Take heart in the fact that scientists work regardless of politicians' vanities.

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