The 9 Days of Dirty Laundry

Tonight we enter into a period of "the 9 days". This is a period of time leading up to Tisha B'av (the 9th day of Av). Historically this has been a tragic day for the Jewish people as both temples were destroyed (over 1 million Jews perished during the destruction of the 2nd temple alone), the Spanish Inquisition began and the spies came back with negative reports regarding the land of Israel (all on the 9th of Av). And as it would be expected, we commemorate these events with self-sacrifice, limitations and you guessed it...a fast day. During the 9 days there are additional prohibitions. For example, swimming is prohibited (swimming was once considered dangerous, although, I'm sure had the 9 days been instituted today, we would be prohibited from highway driving). It is no coincidence that the prohibition against swimming occurs mid-summer during the hottest days of the year. Had the 9 days been in the winter, we'd for sure been prohibited from wearing coats. In addition, we don't listen to music, attend parties, throw weddings, or wear freshly laundered or new clothing. So, we are told to do our laundry prior to the 9 days. 
This means that Jewish people who observe the 9 days are doing their laundry on the day before. Which means that everyone has drawers full of freshly laundered clothing at the start of the 9 days. Thus, another problem occurs. Now that we are not doing laundry, but have just laundered our clothes, how do we not wear freshly laundered clothing? So the solutions I was given were: 1) try your clothes on before wearing them (now there is a real travesty for you) or 2) step on your freshly laundered clothes. Oh yes, the "dance on the clothing" prior to dressing. Now this makes for an interesting ritual.
So today, I finished the household laundry (minus my daughter who prefers to do her laundry once a month causing our washing machine to literally shake its way out of the laundry room. No she does not own enough  underwear for a month and I have no idea where it comes from, nor do I want to know). And, I have left my laundry in a heap on the floor where my dog has found it a comfortable spot to nap.

I suppose that will make it fit to be worn during the 9 days. Now where were we? Ah yes, the temple. May the 9 days help us to commemorate those who perished and all that we lost. May the temple speedily be rebuilt in our days (Amen!) and may everyone who travels near to it, be wearing freshly laundered clothing.
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