Sometime during the first week of May, I hung our laundry outdoors to dry for the first time after a long winter. Later I expounded to anyone who pretended to listen my theory that if everyone who had the capacity used the outdoors to dry their clothes there would be countless amounts of energy saved. And besides, there is nothing quite like the smell of bedding dried outside.

I have not been accosted by the clothesline cops, nor been accused of demeaning the neighborhood. That may come later, but in the meantime I wonder when all that falseness crept into our lives.

I hang clothes on the line just as my mother did, always put the cleaning cloths on the inside as they may be a little dingy, we wouldn’t want the neighbors to see those. Is that how it all started, not wanting anyone to know we couldn’t afford to just throw those rags away?

Not to worry, we have paper and petroleum by-products that can save our reputations and protect the family honor. Send it all to the overused landfills and view our manicured, weed-free lawns and enjoy the view not marred by messy flapping laundry. Just don’t look towards my house.

Harriet Tilley

Bangor