# <center> Your laundry, silly!</center>

<center>https://s13.postimg.org/i26shpnuv/lavanderia.jpg</center>

# <center>An Evolution of Laundry</center>

If you're reading this, it's likely that you haven't had to haul your dirty linens and clothes down to the river to beat with a stone. *Progress.*

The way I've been handling my laundry since moving to Acapulco 8 months ago, is different from how I've ever handled it before. So it got me to thinking about the iterations...

**1.  Clothes Line** - What a fond memory, of spending special time in the backyard with my Grandma (love you always, Juanita Rose, RIP). I remember being, maybe 5 or 6... handing her wooden clothespins... scooting the basket down the line to keep up with our synchronized pace. She was usually humming, singing or laughing as we worked. She was bird-like that way. A mundane chore, made so beautiful by the blue sky and yellow sun. Dryer sheets have been trying to duplicate the freshness of sun-dried garments, but there really is no substitution. 

**2.  Laundromats** - Not every household (especially smaller apartments in metro cities) has the luxury of an in-home washer and dryer. Or even an in-building laundry room. In those instances, I've gone to a public laundromat to wash and dry with many others. It is DIY, and by most people's standards, *not a lot of fun*... waiting for cycles to end, in order to get on with your day. That said, a laundromat is a blessing compared to hand-washing everything. 

**3.  In-Home Washer and Dryer** - I finally enjoyed this sweet convenience in my last home in the States. My ex is a dedicated horseman, so there was always a lot of dirty clothes created daily. And I didn't mind one bit... probably because of all the years I'd spent handling it in much more troublesome ways.

**4.  Lavanderia** -  I am aware that the States have laundry services where you can drop off your dirties, and pick up your cleans. I never made use of those services, because I have always been more of a Do-It-Yourself-er than one who outsources or delegates. Still am. But I currently don't have choice in the matter, so, here's what I'm doing now...

## <center>First, I gather my dirties in a bag.</center>

<center>https://s13.postimg.org/bn7rl1h53/dirty_laundry.jpg</center>

## <center>Then, I walk them down the street a couple blocks to the lavanderia, pictured at the top of this post. Here, it is weighed.</center>

<center>https://s13.postimg.org/6ehc0wo3r/maria.jpg</center>

## <center>Maria gives me a ticket. This particular washload cost about USD$2.35.</center>

<center>https://s13.postimg.org/p834xwmbr/ticket.jpg</center>

## <center>A couple days later, I pick up my clean, folded laundry... again, for which I paid *USD$2.35* to have done.</center>

<center>https://s13.postimg.org/701pj9ts7/clean_laundry.jpg</center>

## <center>And that concludes my life-laundry tour, but there's more!</center>

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<center>The following topical leap is brought to you by... the caution to not air your dirty laundry in public...in case you were wondering how we got to...</center>

# <center>A quick word about a certain kind of dirty laundry that is a *real* drag to deal with: TABOOS and SHAME.</center>

Taboo is defined as "**a social or religious custom prohibiting or forbidding discussion of a particular practice, or forbidding association with a particular person, place, or thing**."

The problematic word here is 'FORBID.'

Inherently, it creates a messed-up power dynamic for the free-thinking person. Presuming harmlessness, who is anyone to forbid anyone else of anything?? Again, PRESUMING HARMLESSNESS. Every religion has its harbinger of restriction... the Western world got The Tree of Knowledge as the ultimate iconic symbol and logo to signify FORBIDDEN.

Knowledge, of course, is sight. But for thousands of years, it's been re-packaged as sin.

<center>https://s11.postimg.org/7uwnmr5dv/tree_of_knowledge.jpg</center>

# <center>Thou shalt not know.</center>

Collective idiotic behavior shows this commandment has exceedingly high compliance. No doubt. The fruit from the tree of ignorance is *sweeeeeet.* Zero nutrients or vitality. But tasty as all get-out. Mmmmm, cheetoh-tryna-be-a-carrot.

### Q:  What happens when a person or institution is given the power to "forbid" X and, over time, **X grows to include THE MOST INNATE, HUMAN THINGS**, like:

* nudity
* bodily fluids
* expressed emotionality
* expressed sexuality
* [cognitive liberty](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_liberty) and the biggie...
* SELF-OWNERSHIP

## A:  A culture of repressed, restricted automatons live in dissonance -- bonded to unnatural norms... estranged from life-giving Heart and Wisdom. That's what happens. That's what's *happening.*

<center>https://s9.postimg.org/wgn6aghdr/social_taboos_3_e1458740527947.jpg</center>

# <center>But shame is a choice. It can be UNchosen.</center>

I believe the rotten fruit -- the bad, aftertaste of taboo -- is:

* being ashamed of our physical body and urges
* being ashamed of our most profound emotions and sensations
* being ashamed of our gifts and abilities
* being ashamed of our flaws and failures
* being ashamed of our wealth and privilege
* being ashamed of our scarcity and powerlessness
* being ashamed of our dark skin, pale skin, wrinkled skin...
* being ashamed of our need for love and connection

See the pattern? *Being ashamed.*

Shame has a necessary function. **It's supposed to alert us to immoral behavior. Bad, reprehensible deeds. Sociopathic choices.**

Funnily, those slide by all the time... and often with approval and consensus. #Election2016

While we get all triggered and red-cheeked over the foibles of being a person.

That's the real dirt to wash out.
 
Oppression and shame exist only because we have not yet risen in full effect. I wonder what, exactly we're waiting for... to take ownership of ourselves, and our lives?

Let's be ruthless with our excuses. And brave with our fears.

<center>https://s3.postimg.org/z9qied72b/freedom.jpg</center>
<center>(October 8, 2015 - Crete, IL)</center>

________
Hola! I'm Erika. If you like this post, you also might like ["Moving to a new country can really change you."](https://steemit.com/mexico/@erikaharris/moving-to-a-new-country-can-really-change-you) I am currently conducting a fun experiment with my life... which is **living from my imagination**. I am happy to report it is working out fabulously! If you want to keep up with an oddly flavored thing like that, add me to your feed: @erikaharris. Your time and attention is precious, so thanks for sharing a lil' of it with me. And if YOU feel in need of some attention, do consider my [Lavish Listening](http://www.empathicwriter.com/) service.