Lipreading Mom

The end of a year and beginning of a new one is often the time that we reflect. We consider our milestones and challenges from the previous 12 months and set goals for the new calendar year. I think about what my dad used to always say: “It’ll all work out in the wash.” 

Dad was from a family of five kids, born in rural Arkansas. For the first years of his life, his family moved often to find work. Money was scarce and at one point the family lived in a tent. By the time my dad reached high school, he had missed a combined three years of school. In 1964, he graduated from a small Oklahoma public school at the age of 21. He was the first member of his family to complete high school and attend college. 

All those years of moving, not knowing where he would sleep or where food would come from taught him a thing or two about worrying. 

In his later years, he reassured me when I would get stressed about a work or family situation: “It’ll all work out in the wash.” The “wash” part of his statement was said with an Arkansas twang: “warsh”. 

Despite the adversities of his early years, my dad persevered, got his education, was a law enforcement officer for 40 years, and owned a home with 80 acres of land. Worrying did not get my dad that far. Hard work and faith did. 

What can be learned from dad’s twangy saying?

Recently, I celebrated a milestone birthday, a number that rhymes with “nifty”. Hard to believe that I’m now at the mid-century mark. Middle age. Getting old, as my children joke. 

On that birthday, I took a vacation day from work. My family surprised me with “Happy Birthday Shanna” front yard signs. I ran outside and, as my daughter filmed me, I took off like a five-year-old child through the maze of brightly colored letter signs that spelled the birthday message. 

In that moment, all the worries and joys and challenges from the past few months faded. My daughter and I laughed until our sides hurt. 

I realized it’s the little things, such as birthday surprises, that linger in the mind. No use in worrying about getting older when we can take moments out of our day to celebrate like a child.

After my dad passed away five years ago, someone bought me a sign that hangs proudly near my laundry room: “It will all work out in the wash.”

With this new year, I hope that all your goals and dreams, all your trials and challenges will work out for the best. 

I hope you find time to celebrate this year.