CONTEMPORARY EXPLORER

Laundromats are unique icons in the American landscape, often housed in single purpose buildings with flashing facades. I have always had a fondness for them.  Forty years ago, I found myself in Billings Montana on a business adventure. My apartment had no washer and dryer. So on a cold Montana day, I found myself in the Family Style laundromat. In walks this beautiful redhead. The same one I had noticed at a business event the night before. Summoning my courage, I introduced myself. Her name was Kathleen. Now forty years later, we are still doing our laundry together. This time though it's in our lovely home near the Catawba River in the Carolinas. Yes, I have a fondness for laundromats. The first laundromat opened in 1934 in Fort Worth, Texas. The industry rapidly grew with the urbanization and increased dense living. At its zenith the industry produced revenues of $5 billion a year. However, in recent years, the destiny of the industry has declined with revenue drop...

The year passed slowly, filled with too many memories and sadness. Left alone in our home, the blahs of the suburbs weighed on me, something I felt long before finding myself alone.  I decided to move into the heart of the city. Gleaming hi rise apartments awaited, nestled with eateries, bars, a gym and the largest mall in the city. I would make use of them all. Well, the gym part only lasted a month. Walks in the mall, especially in the cold months became my exercise. The mall huge and warm, offering the glitter of bright storefronts and buzz of people watching, much needed by my spirit. Life began clicking back into my soul. Sprinkled around the mall were comfortable seats. Even in the poorer store sections of the mall, the seats were plush. I made use of them all, respites from my supposed mall exercise program. I found myself picking subjects to watch. One day it would be how people walked, another what they were wearing, how people looked, how many were talkin...

Clubsters are always waiting for the next party, dance and most of all romance. That can mean anything from love to lust and all the mischief in between. If there is not a party nothing is happening, just waiting.  Some our romantics, some just there for drink and song, some with plans, some left at home or alone with thought and some are always gamers. Clubsters they are one and all… Music "No Secret" by Bill Shostak No Secret  Exzel Music Publishing (freemusicpublicdomain.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/