“An’ it all goes into the laundry But it never comes out in the wash.”
The day is inviting. It ‘s warm and sunny. A cardinal was at the feeder this morning, first one I’ve seen in a while. The weather report says 60’s today and 30’s tonight. That sounds like bundling weather to me.
Sometimes my dad would invite me to go uptown with him on a Saturday, his errand day. It made me feel special when he asked. My dad had his route starting with the Chinaman where he picked up his shirts, newly cleaned, pressed and starched.
The Chinese laundry, a long narrow building, had two windows on the front and two more along one side close to the front. The pressing machine was by the side windows, and I used to watch the man press shirts while I waited. He always looked hot and sweaty to me. The steam from the presser made a whooshing sound, and it billowed from the sides when he used it on a shirt. The Chinese man at the counter seldom spoke. He’d take the dirty shirts, always white shirts, wrap them together and hand my father a tag. Then he’d take the old tag from my father, turn around and look on the shelf behind him. It was filled with packages wrapped in brown paper and white string. The man would find my father’s shirts, take his money, and we’d be done, ready to move on to the next errand, but none were anywhere near as interesting as that Chinese laundry.
Explore posts in the same categories: Musings
October 9, 2010 at 1:36 pm
We must have had places like that over here too, but i just can´t remember them.
I did follow my mother sometimes when she did her errands, but mostly i stayed by my best friend. Her mother baked the best cookies ever 🙂 and they had green lemonade they said was cucumber lemonade 🙂 🙂 🙂 But I never really believed that, it tasted to much of oranges to be made from cucumbers 🙂 🙂 🙂
Have a great day now!
Christer.
October 10, 2010 at 3:00 pm
Christer,
I don’t think I ever saw any other one like that in the towns around us.
My father always bought me a coke or something when I went so it was a really special treat.
I think she was teasing you.
October 9, 2010 at 3:10 pm
I recall following my Mother around on errand day and the place that did the dry cleaning for us also had fur storage which was unusual. The owner let us kids walk through it and wow, talk about cold, this locker room was loaded with furs and peoples jewelry, stored I guess for the summer, stored there if you were rich, and the owner said he even delivers to the customers who live around his shop. We spent the time driving home guessing which neighborhoods these rich people lived in and Mom couldn’t resist saying it had to be the development across from the Mt Vernon Country Club. She had heard the membership to join alone was $4000. a year. Today that number would have brought tears to my eyes I would have laughed so hard.
October 10, 2010 at 3:02 pm
Z&Me,
I remember signs advertising fur storage but never went into a place-didn’t know anyone with a fur either though my aunt did give my mother her fox stole when she got a new one. I thought it was awful.
WOW, $4000! When I first started teaching, I made 6500 a year and felt rich.
October 10, 2010 at 12:17 am
That’s the problem with Chinese laundry:
1. Very starchy,
2. You have to go back a week later.
Cheers
October 10, 2010 at 3:04 pm
Minicapt,
You have been amazing!