dishwasher
i got a new book in the mail, dishwaher by pete jordan. i mostly read kid’s books to my kids and occasionally i’ll read an article in a magazine that’s around, or while i wait in the dentist office. pete jordan had the brilliant idea to travel all 50 states and wash dishes. i wish i would have thought of that. it’s a good book, especially for me because i’m crazy for washing dishes. when i used to wash dishes i took so much pride in it, i was so good at it, and i was certain that i would be washing dishes my whole life and not ashamed of that. when you do a job for a long time, you learn all the details and tricks of that profession. reading pete’s book, i am reminded of all the things i loved about washing dishes and all the details that could be lost on the average, non-dishwashing, reader… like how i took pains to clean my machine with sheila shine, or clean the wash arms of lemon seeds, or keep the chemicals flowing, or keep the sink water hot and full. being a good dishwasher is much harder than people would imagine. well, that’s probably true of anything. being good at anything is challenging. 
anyway, i’ve been wanting to take my son to see the new 3-d disney movie but haven’t had the time for weeks. today the occasion finally came. i thought it would be smoky from the fires, or might even rain and so a 5 pm movie would be good, and since it was smoky or might rain and is wednesday, i knew we would be slow at work and i could take the night off. when we went in the movie it was crystal clear blue sky gorgeous, and i thought maybe i should have just stayed home and played in the yard. but when we got out it was smokey as a pit bar-b-q. i thought about the 13 piece klezmer band that was supposed to be playing at lightnin’ salvage, and how sad the scene must be there, them playing to an empty smokey lounge. we decided to go pick up a pizza and give a little listen to the klezmer kats.
well, the closer we got to satchel’s the smokier it got. and when i could finally make out the parking lot, i was amazed to see cars lined up like a dealership running a saturday special. when i finally got back to lightnin’ salvage, there were people everywhere and the klezmer band going at it like it was a 3 ring circus. i fought through a crowd to get to the hostess and found there was an hour wait… so much for my peaceful night off…
i guess those klezmer kats really bring in the people. or the pizza, or the smoke, or something… i still can;t figure out that place, how it can be so busy, how it can be so fun despite the madness, and how the music seems to give that final push over the edge that completes the sculpture of it all. music, community, food, art, family, play, color… even when i feel burnt out, i’m still a little amazed by the place.
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