I love my lipstick. I’ve worn the same shade for many, many years and I pray that Revlon never discontinues it. When I am about to leave for the day, I put it in the pocket of my jeans. I don’t know when I started this little ritual, but it came about because I didn’t want to be digging for it in my bag. This way it is always handy.

While my husband was visiting this past week, I was in the bathroom and leaned over to flush the toilet. Much to my chagrin, my lipstick fell out of my pocket and before I could do anything, went right down the toilet. Since I was heavily booked at rehearsals, my husband volunteered to buy me a new one at the drugstore. He did, bless him, and I had a nice, new lipstick.

Fast forward to yesterday. I had to get up very early in the morning to take husband to the airport. We had been at an Opening Night party the evening before and didn’t get home until late. Neither of us got enough sleep. After saying goodbye to Don, I had to attend a run-through rehearsal and do some coaching. I came home around 4:00 and decided to throw the sheets and towels in the wash. Since I am staying at an apartment complex, I have to gather my quarters and use the pay washer and dryer that are down a couple of flight of stairs. At the last minute, I decided to throw in my jeans, too. (You know where this is going.) I loaded everything in the washers and realized I had neglected to bring the money. Back up the stairs, back down the stairs, back up the stairs. After about a half hour, I went back to the laundry area, took everything out of the washer and put it all in the dryer. About 40 minutes later, back to the laundry room to check on the dryer (in case I had to add a quarter and extend the drying time.) I was horrified to see red blotches all over everything. Had something been in the dryer I didn’t notice? Something that bled all over the sheets, towels, pajamas, and jeans? I was confused. As I felt around, my hand touched part of a lipstick tube and I knew. I had left the darn tube in my jeans and it had melted all over my laundry. I was so angry I could spit. Angry at myself, of course. I was just too tired and didn’t think.

I had to run back to the apartment, get some cleaner and wipe down the whole inside of the dryer. This now made about 10 trips up and down the stairs. Luckily the dryer cleaned up nicely. When I toted all the laundry back up the stairs to my apartment and examined it more closely, I discovered a few things (jeans, top) were salvageable (after an extensive treatment of Spray ‘n Wash Max), but the sheets, towels, and pajamas were goners. Which is why I found myself driving to Target at 5:30 to buy some replacements. Oh, and I bought another lipstick. Revlon 525 Creme ~ Wine with Everything.

Lesson learned.