overflowing

"mama!", my daughter cried, this morning, at ten o'clock, on my one day off this week, "there's something wrong with the washing machine!"
we had - had - such fine friday plans, she and i: we would sleep late; we would ease into the day, spend a few hours in town, shop, pause somewhere nice; we would buy the ingredients for maccheroni al ragu bianco, which is her favourite dish. she has accumulated all the "study points" she needs to graduate, so this was part of her celebration: the meal, and the afternoon together.
instead, we mopped up water rippling an inch deep on the whole top floor, wrung out every towel we own, again and again, called the repairman, waited for his arrival, and accepted his somber verdict.
we did get into the city, though, but a bit later than planned, and a bit stressed.
and we did do most of what we intended to do.
and we did dine on maccheroni al ragu bianco...
because graduating from college is worth a feast, deluge or no deluge, as far as i can see.