Crisis Averted By Warm Soapy Water

A few years ago (4? 5?) I threw a dinosaur-themed birthday party for Shad and I found these super cheesy dinosaur napkins--crazy bright colors, with "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" emblazoned across the top in screaming hues of orange and red. I must have gotten a killer deal because for some reason I bagged tons and tons of them. For the next year or so, every time we hosted dinner or a party, we used these horrible napkins. It became something of a joke. But, alas, eventually the supply ran low until finally, there was only one napkin left. JoLynn had mourned the depletion of the napkins and so I was careful to reserve this last one for her. For the past three years or so, this has been joLynn's special napkin. Whether she is over for dinner, coffee, conspiratorial activities, a party, whatever, I reach up to the second shelf, grab the napkin, and give it to her. She takes nice care of it, and at the end of the evening, we put it back. The napkin has probably been used 40 or 50 times in this way; it has remained in perfect condition and no one else is allowed to use it. EVER.

It is a very special napkin.

A few days ago I walked into the kitchen and glanced into the sink, where a pan was soaking. To my absolute horror, I noticed that joLynn's special napkin had fallen into the sink and was floating on top of the dirty water. I gasped so loudly that Shad rushed into the kitchen to see what was the matter. We stared down at the situation in dismay, as though we had just run over someone's kitty. Finally, on Shad's gentle suggestion, I gingerly plucked it out of the water and hand-washed it in a warm soapy solution, then left it on the drying rack overnight.

Voila! It's a bit crisp, but otherwise as good as new. Phwew.