Wrinkles Rub Me

Here's an interesting little tidbit that you may have noticed - if you talk about underwear people will come out of the woodwork to comment. So it's not just me with the weird undies fascination, apparently. You all can't deny it, I've caught you red handed. I was going to say with your pants down but considering the topic of conversation that would just be awkward.

You know that I'm not one to point fingers out at you without also pointing a few in at myself. I learned to laugh at life a long time ago, and sometimes I laugh at myself instead of with myself. It makes things a whole lot more fun that way.

A few of us were discussing the folding of the underwear thing on Plurk, and as conversations generally do, the topic veered into other directions. Laundry folding in general was discussed, and it was found that towels can be a make or break item. In fact, the statement was actually made that one needs to fold towels in thirds for the Earth to remain on it's axis.

And you thought I had problems.

Back in the day (you know, the newlywed ones I was talking about originally, before kids?) I folded towels Just.So. In thirds, even. My Earth remained firm on it's axis. And then kids happened, and I realized that if I didn't fold towels in thirds they still dried me off after a shower. The Earth didn't shatter as it fell off it's axis, either. I felt like such a rebel.

And while I laugh at those who fold towels just so, and those who color code their underwear drawer, I have a confession to make.

I make my bed.

I know what you're thinking. Big deal, everyone does. Or at least a lot of people do. But I don't think you understand the concept here. The bed making is not an optional part of my day. My kids beds are never made, and I could care less. I do not force them to make beds, I do not require them to make beds, and I certainly do not make their beds for them. But my bed must be made.

It must.

Preferably as soon as I get out of it in the morning. The mornings when Sam sleeps in and I don't (hello, every day that he's off!) it drives me iNsAnE. Why? Because I can't make the bed when I get up. I will have to remember to go make the bed sometime during the day.

Part of the reason that I have this obsession is that our bed is laundry central. (It always comes back to the laundry, doesn't it?) Once clean laundry is pulled from the dryer, it gets dumped on the bed to be sorted and folded. I've recently begun folding from the couch (look at me be the rebel) but then all those baskets of folded clothes need to be sorted into whose who. Our large bed is a perfect staging area for the Takeover of the Laundry Heaps.

But it's deeper than this, even. There's that little fact that I cannot sleep in an unmade bed. I've tried once or twice. I really have. I lay there and I wiggle and I writhe, and I feel the wrinkles that should be smooth, and the covers aren't laying just right on top of me, and things just seem off balance. I think it's the universe spinning out of control.

On these nights (and I think there have been less than 5 in our 16 years of marriage) I make Sam get out of bed and I remedy the situation. You heard me. We get out of bed, I make it, and then we get back in and go to sleep.

Hi. I'm Karen, and I am a freak.

21 comments:

Michelle said...

Uhhh, you win. While I fold my towels into thirds, it's a natural thing and not a I have to stop using the towel, fold it and hang it back up and THEN use it if someone else doesn't have it folded properly. And you think my meat and cheese thing is weird. Pshaw! ;)

jayna said...

I routinely go to sleep well after the husband. And nine times out of ten, I will stand there in the dark and make the bed over him. I just can't bring myself to crawl into a rumpled and twisted mass of comforter and sheets.

Cecily R said...

Heeeee heeeee! Jon is exactly the opposite. IF I make the bed (lucky for him I almost never do) he has to mess it up before he can get in.

Gina said...

That's funny! The thing about the towels is that I can leave them in a basket in the laundry room, all rumpled, and it doesn't bother me. But if they are folded, they must be folded in thirds. I will redo them if they are not.

Suburban Correspondent said...

Same here. The house can be trashed, but that bed is made. And I could never sleep in an unmade bed.

Unknown said...

Put me in the freak catergory too then because the bed must be made! :)

Andrea said...

I absolutly have to have my covers tucken in nice and tight. I hate it when they feel out of place too!! so, you are not a freak. And right now my bed is not maid, because there is a sick toddler sleeping in it. Sigh.....

Cynthia said...

Alright, obsessive towel folder here...busted:P

JennyH said...

Hi freak!! Kidding! I could care less about beds being made. We generally pull the covers up over the bed but that is it. Even then, the kids seem to think our bed is a play fort of some type and crawl all in it messing up.

Towels- I also don't care how they are folded. I let the kids do the washcloths (when I can!) and if they attempt the bigger ones, more power to them. When my mom or MIL is here and they are helping fold laundry (you know, like after a baby is born!) they always ask how I fold my towels. Really, I don't care, if they are folded, I'm happy.

Seems as though lots of people have some issues with folding and sorting. Maybe they can come help out over here. I have a couple of mountains of laundry just waiting to be folded!

Infrared Goggles said...

Wow, I can relate. Plus, I travel a lot for business and would love for someone to come into my home about 5pm and turn down my well-made bed. LOL If you are a freak, I guess I am, too. :D

Anonymous said...

Hi. I'm Nicole. And I am also a freak. I fold the towels in thirds and I too have made my husband get out of bed so that I can make it . . . just to get back into bed.

And I HATE when he is on re-coup and sleeps all day! I make the bed the second he gets up, and am irritated to no end when I crawl into bed a few hours later and find that it hasn't had the entire day to sit, waiting for me.

I have issues.

justmylife said...

The bed is the perfect staging area. I do that all the time.

I don't make my bed everyday, but I do have to pull the bottom sheet straight and pull up the rest of the covers. Your not strange, I have been known to pull the bed together mere minutes before hubby goes to bed. I CANNOT sleep on wrinkled sheets. You are not alone, I think you are in good company. ;)

Danyele Easterhaus said...

hi karen. i'm danyele and i'm freaking crazy!

Lynn C Mama to 3 said...

Wow... I roll up towels (I don't fold) and I don't make my bed. Suddenly feeling like gross and dirty person.

Burgh Baby said...

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: That's WAY more OCD than me and my neat little underwear drawers. WAAAAAY!

CC said...

I hate getting into an unmade bed. But my husband gets out of bed after me AND routinely naps AND rarely makes the bed. So, I often make him run into the bedroom at 9:30pm to make the bed. So that I can get into it. How's that for being a freak? ;)

rebelliousflaw said...

I have given up on the bed making. I agree with you in that I enjoy the freshly made bed. I love looking at the crisp bedding after the bed has been made. It looks like something out of a Martha Stewart magazine. I made my bed day in and day out while I was growing up and even after I moved away to colleg. And then I married Sorg. He who sleeps until well after I do does not make the bed. I used to argue. I used to complain. I used to get irritated and make the bed before going to sleep at night. But, I've given up the fight. Now, the only time I get a freshly made bed is when I change the bedding, and occasionally when Sorg isn't home and I get to make the bed when I actually get up.

KG said...

It's not freaky. I don't go to the trouble of making it if it's unmade before getting in, but I DO pull all the sheets up right before I get in. My husband will just get in even if he's pulled the sheets out at the bottom (which he sometimes does because: 1) he's tallish; and 2) he thrashes around a lot while sleeping). That makes me insane. I have to have them tucked and totally make him get out to tuck them in properly.

PS - I fold my towel in half. Hubby just bunches the stupid towel up and throws it haphazardly on the rack. I hate that! I at least want it folded into 2 pieces. I'm a freak.

the planet of janet said...

we could never be roommates.

bwahahahahahahaa

Trisha said...

The bed making thing . . . I totally understand! I have a real problem sleeping in a bed with "loose" sheets. They must be tucked in just right and the covers should be nice and smooth before I jump in. Of ocurse, I can't sort laundry on my bed because of the cat hair but I still make it every day!

HalfAsstic.com said...

NO! You are not a freak! Because if you are then I am too!
While I have no problem with the bed being unmade, (however, I do have to do a lot of straightening before getting in at night), I have to say that I have the laundry fetish you described. I ABSOLUTELY have to have everything folded perfectly, (and yes, towels go in thirds... so do the washcloths in my house), and all of my drawers and closets are freakishly neat.
*sigh*
Hi. My name is Krissa and I'm a freak.