I think my washing machine has been taking Zumba classes when I’m not looking. And just when I was starting to show my uppity microwave who’s boss, too. It’s all very discouraging. When are my appliances going to start just doing their jobs and then taking the rest of the day off, like all the other machines?
The washer, a Maytag, used to behave quite responsibly. Fill, wash, spin, fill, rinse, spin some more, STOP. Repeat as needed. It stood next to the dryer, their sides aligned two inches apart and their fronts perfectly even. Just the way I like it; crooked things bug me. Then, a few months ago, I walked into the laundry room to dry the towels, and almost plowed into the washer. It had shimmied itself away from the wall and was standing at a goofy angle, straining its cold-water fill hose to the limit like a Jack Russell terrier pulling at the leash. I leaned down, embraced Maytag with both arms and ooched it back into place.
Then it started messing with me.
After spinning each load of laundry, Maytag would add an extra “cha-cha” step and end up cocked at an odd angle. Sometimes the difference was subtle, and I could just tug a little on one corner to bring it back into line. Other times it would do “The Bump” against the dryer, or nearly squash the laundry basket into the corner. I got pretty good at leaning into it with one leg extended back for leverage, doing a sort of tango move to coax Maytag back into its proper place. (I learned the hard way to never, ever try moving it while the tub is full of water.)
One evening Brent came home and walked from the garage into the laundry room to find me thus poised, looking like a cross between a ship’s figurehead and Carol Burnett. I must say, I found it a little insulting when he eased back out the door without a word, instead of offering to help.
I’m not sure what to do about Maytag, or why the sudden interest in dancing.
I wonder if I could talk it into taking a ‘spin’ class instead…
No, that would probably not be challenging enough.
Thanks for reading!
Jan
Jan C Johnson, Author 
You have a way of making me laugh at things that would not normally seem so stinkin’ funny. I hope you teach Maytag a lesson…
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Thanks, Jen. If I succeed, I’ll be sure to post about it!
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Help, call the maytag man… or take dancing lessons.
Love ya
Mom
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If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em, right?
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This post is really really funny. thanks for making my day!
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And thank YOU for stopping by and commenting!
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I had a Maytag exactly like that! It was left with the house in Kansas when we sold the house. Maybe the new owner of the house had the same experience with the Maytag that you experienced. I will never know.
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Oh no, two of them??
😉
Thanks for visiting, Kathy.
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You see, this is exactly why I miss you. Come to CO and I’ll even let you dance with MY washing machine. I don’t make that offer to just ANYBODY you know!
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Okay. No cameras.
(Miss you, girl!)
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I love stories, this is a great one!
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Thanks for the encouragement, Debbie. Love the photos on your blog!
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Such a cute story with a way with “words”! Oh, I mean “washers” ! So fun! Thanks for stopping by my blog and commenting today. I will check out more of your stories when I have the chance. Barb
P.S. And I love cycling too ;-D
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Welcome, Barbara! I appreciate your visit too. You might enjoy my “Thoughts on Two Wheels” category, as well as “I remember when…” There is plenty of goofiness at our house, and I’m always happy to share a debacle for laughs!
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LOVE it!!!! My washer must have been sneakin around with yours! 🙂
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Yours, too? What I want to know is, who teaches these appliance dance classes??
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