It'll all come out in the wash

At the heartfelt non-traditional wedding last night, the non-minister minister shared some things the groom had written about the bride and the bride had written about the groom. The bride had noted that the groom often said, "It'll all come out in the wash," then added, "whatever that means."

As it happens, I know what it means. I know because I heard this a few thousand times growing up. It was one of my mother's favorite remarks. What it means is quite simple: so what if you fall in the mud? So what if you puke all over yourself? Filthiness is not a permanent affliction because "it will all come out in the wash." It's a remark of optimism and forgiveness. Whether it's also naive and simplistic depends on your world view. My mother took it seriously, and I don't criticize her for that (rest her soul). This is a very Thornton Wilderesque, old-fashioned optimism that used to be quite common in the land. Not for a long time.

I liked the wedding. We left early since it also was a zoo in a bar crammed with no one we knew. But I liked the ceremony, no doubt because I like the people. May they beat the odds.