Washerwoman

Have I told you lately how nice it is to have a washing machine that's still in the same place at the end of each load as at the start? 

A year ago January, I called the Santiago-based missionaries' go-to electrician when my washing machine started shaking uncontrollably mid-cycle and making a deep, thunderous hammering sound. I still regret not taking a picture of whatever "fix" he performed with safety pins (because I couldn't find cloth diaper pins), but it did the trick. 

 

For a time. 

The shaking and hammering would come and go sporadically, but a few days before my brother and his family were scheduled to arrive for a Holy Week visit, I threw in a load of laundry before church and came home to find it humming and stuck on Spin. Nothing I tried worked, so I made the snap decision to stop putting off the inevitable and buy a new washing machine before hosting houseguests. 

I uncharacteristically did no research, just went back to where I got my microwave and refrigerator. The first model I picked out only had one severely damaged unit in stock unless I wanted to wait a week, so I went with my 2nd choice, which has impeller blades instead of an agitator. I had some company - and entertainment - while waiting to load it onto the pickup truck taxi that would deliver it to my house.  

Miiiiight have saved some nice, flat pieces of the box for "sledding" at the Monument...

We won't talk about how long my old washing machine sat on my front porch. Judge me all you want, but I heard the loudspeakers announcing the impending arrival of a scrap metal recycling truck SO many times...when I wasn't home. It was my brother who finally picked up on the now familiar jingle, alerted me, and had his phone on him to document a uniquely Dominican cultural experience. I'd recently sold my old water heater for the staggering sum of RD$50 (~83 cents), so I was thrilled to get RD$300!

It IS nice to have a washing machine that's still in the same place at the end of each load as at the start... especially when company comes and in addition to sheets & towels you have wet swimsuits, muddy tennis shoes, and the like - all signs of a fun week I'll save for a subsequent post. 

Until next time, blessings in Christ!