Saturday I got a present from my sister. What she gave me is a whole lifestyle change, a huge step up to adulthood. She gave me her old washer and dryer. I haven’t been able to do laundry without first putting it in my car since I left for college 20 years ago. This is a very big deal. And they’re great – really big with lots of controls. She’s moving into a new house next weekend with all new stuff, so I got some great hand-me-downs. I was thinking how much this will make my life better – I need fewer clothes since I don’t have to accumulate enough laundry to make the trip worthwhile, which means I can throw out everything old and dingy. I don’t have to worry about how to store a dozen towels because I don’t need a dozen anymore. I can buy less! Save more! Yes! And quarters? I can spend them freely without wondering if I’ll be a quarter short next time I do a load of reds.

But my glee was tainted by a horrible situation that dear sis is in. She closes on her current house on Thursday. Last Saturday, while she was helping move the dryer into my basement, her husband was fixing a leak in a sewer pipe – which he had to go into a first floor wall to get to. By the time she came back with the washer, they had started ripping out the upstairs bathroom. Including the tile floor. She was handling it amazingly well – I think she was still in shock. Did I mention that she’s selling this house on THURSDAY? When all of this has to be put back and perfect? OMG. Please say a rosary or light a candle or bow facing east or say 1000 sutras or dance naked under the waxing moon or whatever you can do to help my sister and her husband and this extremely stressful situation. I may be trying all of the above. It’s a little chilly at night, but I love her lots. (And I can put my clothes in the dryer so they’ll be warm when I put them back on.)