On the Judicious Use of Hot Water

On the Use of Hot Water

Except when a water heater fails
and that does happen often at the wrong time
we take the flow of hot water for granted

This morning I took a cold shower
By cold I mean frigid not lukewarm

I am in a petite Parisian apartment
I unwittingly depleted the small hot water supply
by simply washing breakfast dishes
then hopping in the shower
I braved it out
Tomorrow I will not repeat this mistake.

Tonight, after washing the dinner dishes
I remembered that my grandmother boiled
enough water for two portions
of her dishwashing regimen
She washed in cold water
dipped the plate in a tepid rinse basin
stood the dishes in a rack
then when all the washing and rinsing
was complete poured boiling water
over the dinnerware

Her pots and pans
and china
and tableware
were so clean

you could eat off them

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