Recently, I was lucky enough to be with a group of my extended family at a wedding reception. The group was made up of all women. Some second cousins and some sisters. Some with small children and some without. All very intelligent and established women. Yet, I found it fascinating when the comment "I like starting the dish washer, because the sound makes me happy," was tossed into the conversation. Instantly I thought, "Wow! I thought I was the only one that felt that." But I looked around the group and everyone was smiling and nodding at this sentiment. Then I started to wonder, why? Why does the simple sound of the dishwasher running give you that snugly, homey, nostalgic feeling? Maybe because it is usually run at the end of the day, after everything has calmed down. It has to have calmed down for you to hear the machine do its magic.... whether its the kids are asleep, the busy road outside has settled, or simply the world is winding down for the evening. We recently purchased a "new and improved" dishwasher. It is shiny and pretty and all, but when my husband asked me if I liked it I said, "It's ok..... it's not as noisy as the old one." He thought I was crazy. He obviously doesn't get the happy feeling from the dishwasher.
Other sounds make us happy. For me; my daughter laughing, certain songs in certain settings, falling asleep listening to the waves at the beach or rain in the trees. Most of them are universal, and probably not surprising to people. So why was I so surprised at the consensus in that group of women? I think it is because none of the women were your stereo typical 50's "housewife" type. I never have put myself in that category, except when I have that feeling of happiness listening to the dishwasher run in a cozy evening. I feel the day is complete and I did a good job. Perhaps it is comforting to know that with how the world has changed and how hectic our lives have become.... everyone must do their dishes at some point or another, and for those 2 hours we can bask in the "back home feeling" the sound brings.
