Dear Reader Column 10-06-06

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Dear Reader,

I usually try to stay out of the rain because I'm afraid I'll get soaked, my hair will frizz, and I might ruin a favorite pair of shoes. But last night when my husband and I were out for a late night stroll and it started to rain, we just kept walking--in the rain.

My husband offered to run and get the car while I stood underneath an awning, but strolling hand-in-hand, the rain lightly falling on us, it was romantic--a perfect moment that I'll remember for a long time.

In fact, I was so smitten by last night's walk that when it started raining this afternoon, I invited my husband to take another walk. And out the door we went. We took the long way around the neighborhood and by the time we got back to our house we were completely soaked. It took me 30 minutes to get presentable again, which is probably why the sidewalks aren't crowded when it's raining.

But maybe if the 'cleanup' after walking in the rain wasn't such a big deal, people would indulge more often--which got my marketing brain thinking: Instead of cleaning up after the walk, maybe someone should think of ideas for cleaning up 'while' they're walking in the rain.

Here's my idea:

If you don't mind airing your dirty laundry, why not wear it while you walk in the rain?

Become a portable washing machine. Dig deep down into your clothes hamper, pull out that gravy-stained shirt, zip on the pants with the hot dog relish stain, tie the laces on your mud-covered gardening shoes and get moving. A daily dose of exercise and clean clothes all in a 35 minute walk/wash cycle.

But don't forget to pre-treat with your favorite stain stick--rainwater can only do so much.

Mixing whites and colors--it's no longer a laundry dilemma. Want your clothes cuddly-soft? Carry a fabric softener ball along with you, douse yourself in the second wash cycle, (that would be about 13 minutes into your walk) and you'll come home all shiny-clean with that April Fresh Scent.

But how do I wash my unmentionables, you dare ask? No problem. Put your intimate apparel in a bucket, set it in your kid's red wagon and pull it along behind you. The sidewalk bumps make the perfect delicate cycle.

Your neighbors won't have a clue that you're doing your laundry while you're walking in the rain--but from experience I warn you, they may look at you a bit strange when after the rain's subsided they see you spinning down the sidewalk in your spin dry cycle.

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Warmest Regards,

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected] 
http://www.DearReader.com

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Comments

[carolyn teasley]

dear suzanne,
i never laugh so hard as i did today reading your letter to readers! too bad it's not a totally feasable idea. my dear husband gets sick every time he gets stuck out in the rain! well, almost. otherwise i would try it. but its more fun to do together with a loved one. now everytime it rains i will be picturing you w/your little red wagon!