Tuesday's Trifles  "Pollen Pleasures"


I realize that is a crazy title, as springtime pollen creates a whole host of annoyances for many of us.  But, there is one pleasure to come of  all those little pesky specks!  As I said in previous Tuesday posts, trifles are little things that can be viewed as great things, if we choose to do so.  Yesterday, this was the way I chose to view those very little, almost invisible, things floating through the air, torturing our sinuses, eyes and throats, and coating our cars, window screens and well, everything!  


This past weekend was The Weekend..."Pollen-Palooza" when certain trees celebrate life by exploding their life force into the air, gracing the outdoors with a lovely lime powder like microbial confetti.  With the right breeze, you can see "Pollen-Palooza" in action, as a visible cloud of pollen moves through the air like a graceful, green phantom.   Yesterday, I decided my silver, but lime-green tinted, car deserved a "shower" after the long weekend of the pine trees' hard partying!   


I decided to make one very annoying, very small thing into a very enjoyable, very great thing...and all for only $12.00!  Off to the car wash we went and it was worth every penny!  Going through the car wash is not a great extravagance, although I do not avail myself or my car of it very often.  Yet, the experience feels like such a luxury to me.  Perhaps it just brings back nice childhood memories...the simple, naive thrill of traveling through that dark tube with water and soap being zapped at you from every direction...every kid's dream!  As an adult now, I think it is about more than that.  There is something about the "surrender" of those swift, sudsy seconds (I don't think it takes even a full minute!) in the car wash that is so restorative, like a soapy oasis in the midst of a busy day.  From the moment I put the car into neutral and feel the tug of the track underneath the tires, it is as if I am downshifting too, into a gear in which there is not much else I can do.  By the time the bumper has been foamed and scrubbed, and the first rinse of water is streaming down my windshield, I have abandoned scribbling the shopping list to just sink into my seat, get pulled along, and enjoy the bath!  The squirts of foam (red and blue for Memorial Day) make patriotic stripes on the windows and then...the absolute best part...the Strip Monster attacks!  I hated this part as a kid, but now it's just the best thing when those long, wavy strips of foam smother the car and wriggle all around like wet worms.  Those seconds in the dark while the car is slathered and sloughed must remind me of those glorious seconds when you stepped out of the tub, were wrapped in a waiting towel and were rubbed dry head to toe by loving, albeit rushing, hands.   Then, the darkness breaks and as the car gets its final rinse and "wheel brite" treatment, I see light at the end of the tunnel.  Next comes the roar of the giant blow dryers and I savor the last few seconds of my relaxing oasis.  As if to ramp me back up for my re-entry to the world, the dryers roar and blast at my silver cocoon.  Before I know it, it's over...I feel the track spit me out onto the pavement and I shift back into Drive.  Time for me, and my brilliantly gleaming car, to get in gear and return to action...restored, refreshed, and pollen-free!


If you ask me, it's the best (and cleanest!) $12.00 thrill the civilized world has to offer.  Well, except for having your hair washed at the beauty salon, a luxury which is actually cheaper...but that is another story for another Tuesday...come to think of it, I think I have an appointment next week!  So glad I have another great little thing to look forward to all week!


Thanks for reading.  Let it steep!