Ironing

  

   I ironed for the first time today since moving to the new apartment.  I had bought a fancy over the door hanger for my ironing board and iron in the laundry room so it was easier to get to, but I really haven't had the need to use them.  I put clothes in the dryer yesterday and did not take them out until today, and 2 of my husband's shirts were very wrinkled.  He wears Magellan shirts, so most of the time if they are taken out of the dryer right away, they are wrinkle free.  Sometimes, even when I leave them in the dryer, I hang them up and usually the wrinkles come out, or I pretend that they do.
My husband wears them to work on airplanes, and the airplanes could really care less if his shirt is wrinkled or not.  My husband has never complained, and I figured if it really bothered him, he could iron them himself.  I am not the greatest housewife.  At least when I had a job, I sort of had an excuse, but I don't now, except that I just don't like ironing.  I would say for most people this is true, my mother being one of the exceptions.  She is one of those that likes to iron, clean house etc.  I did not inherit that particular gene from her.  Could have been because while I was having to do chores growing up, I would rather have been playing.  Same rings true today.
     My father decided one day that I was going to iron his shirts.  He was a retired Navy officer, and a businessman, so his white shirts had to be perfectly starched and ironed.  I think that is what dry cleaners are for.  I did iron his shirts one time, and he yelled at me because it wasn't perfect so I told him I was not going to do it again.  I also remember back in 7th grade, I was getting ready for the Academic Achievement Awards ceremony at school and I wanted to wear my white pantsuit.  (It was the 80's).  I turned the iron on too hot for the fabric and it burned a huge hole in the pants.  I was devastated.  I am not sure why, it was not to look good for my parents, as they dropped me off at the ceremony and went out to dinner, and there was certainly no one I was dressing for at school, at least I do not remember who, I was pretty much a flower on the wall.
     As I was ironing today, I asked myself, why do we do it?  Iron our clothes?  I will be the first to admit that I judge someone that shows up to work or at a social event in wrinkled clothes, immediately going to the "lazy person" judgement.  But what do I know?  Maybe they overslept, maybe their wife did their ironing for them, but one of the kids was sick and she didn't have time, maybe their electricity went out, and why is it any of my business anyway?  Why are we trying to iron out the wrinkles, what is wrong with wrinkles?  I know there are plenty of people who pay good money so their personal wrinkles on their face or their skin do not show.  I have wrinkles.  I started getting them big time when I had kids, and I had pretty good kids.  I wish I had more laugh lines than wrinkles.  I love looking at people's faces that have huge laugh lines, it makes me think, they got the memo, "No one is getting out alive, so might as well have fun while I am are here."  I have a very loud laugh, and it annoys some people, well probably a lot of people, but I have also been told by people they love my laugh, because it is genuine, and usually means I am in a good mood, which is so much better than the alternative.
     When I started getting gray hair, my daughter used to pluck them out, and I was like, "Don't do that, I have earned every one of those!"  She would reply, "They are so wild."  That is ok to me.  My hair was blonde when I was younger, and then dishwater blonde, but as I age, it is actually getting darker, except of course for those stray gray hairs coming in.  I am actually looking forward to gray hair, I think I will be able to get away with more.  People will comment, "Oh don't mind her, she's just a crazy old lady."  And that is alright by me.  I've never been an "appearance" girl.  I don't wear makeup, except on the few occasions needed, weddings, funerals, job interviews.  I one time went to a Merle Norman boutique and  got all made up and when I got to work, my husband, who was then just a friend said, "Is it Halloween, because you look like a clown."  It hurt my feelings big time, but I have saved mucho money not having to buy makeup or keeping up appearances, because he didn't want that kind of girl.  Not that I am not high maintenance, any girl that loves horses is truly high maintenance, but in a different way.
     So we iron our clothes to rid of the wrinkles.  And yes, when I am dressed nicely, I do carry myself differently than I do when in yoga pants, which thankfully is my present work uniform as a housewife.  But who is the real me?  The one all dressed to impress, or the one in yoga pants enjoying the day, allowing life to unfold instead of trying to unfold it?