A Portland Laundromat

After my dip in the mountain stream I went to change my pants and realized I would need to do laundry because I was out of clean clothes. I made my way back to Portland and found a Laundromat close to the hostel I was staying at. It was probably the saddest Laundromat I have ever seen in my life. It had a plane white interior and lacked any music radio, TV or even chairs, no amenities what so ever.

When I walked in, I first noticed a sign that said “be aware of your surroundings, not responsible for any persons or there possessions!” I then walked over to the closest machine I could find and started a load. A good bit of time went by as I stood there and waited, until another gentlemen entered to do some wash. Except this mans laundry wasn’t socks and underwear, he was washing a parachute! It was the oddest thing I ever seen. This is when I had the strongest bought of déjà vu since I’ve been on my trip.

I then went out to my car and grabbed up my book and began reading it. As soon as I opened it another rather tall, and younger looking gentleman entered the Laundromat went over to the dryers opened one up and felt his still wet clothes. He then came over to where I was leaning against a wall reading and he pulled out his book and began reading it. About 12 minutes went by and the alarm to the drier went off, he once again went over and felt his still wet clothes. This is when I suggested he put half in another machine. He ignored my suggestion but it did spark up a conversation as we waited for our clothes to finish there respected cycles.

We talked for good half hour or so and I told him about my trip and he told me about his college and where he was from. He then got a phone call from one of his roommates and when he was finished, he invited me back to his house around the corner for some dinner. Now I know what your thinking and I was thinking it to, but then I am not one to pass up an offer for free food.

After my laundry was done and folded I followed my new friend’s directions to his very nice place. This was one nice ass house in a very nice neighborhood. Now I am not one to do things like this, a million bad thoughts pass through my mind about any given situation. I don’t know if I’m paranoid or just overly cautious but I figure everyone is out to kill me. But I said to my self “what the hell, lets see what this is all about.” When I arrived at the place I first took a notice to the rather odd red porch light as I walked up to the front door and knocked on it. A rather large frat looking guy answered it and gave me this funny look, like who the hell are you, I gave him the same look back, and said “is…….(I forgot his name)…I’m a…” and just then he came around the corner. He said “hay whats up man, come on in.” He gave me the proper introductions and offered me a beer, to which I declined and asked for a soda.

I couldn’t help but notice the rather festive painted walls and various decorations that adorned the place, as we gathered in the dining room. The dinner we had was an odd sort, it was an amalgamation of every single vegetable you can think of, with no real design behind it. It was served along side some bowtie pasta, and actually wasn’t that bad, I managed to choke down two portions. After dinner we all talked a bit about politics videogames and bike riding. I still cant believe how nice they all were to me, and when I left, they told me if I was ever in Portland again to stop by, that I would be more then welcome to crash at their place anytime.