Soundtrack of Our Lives?

My ipod and I had an interesting evening at the Laundromat tonight. I decided to go to the one around the corner from my work instead of our local joint. And, being alone at a Laundromat with only my ipod to keep me company, truly makes it a whole different experience. Everything seems to go with whatever is playing at the time.

Such as; me throwing the heaviest load into the bottom dryer, (sweating profusely,) with my nose right in line with a toddler who had THE SMELLIEST DIAPER IN THE WORLD while listening to "Holiday in Cambodia" by the Dead Kennedys. I kept looking up to his father (gagging,) hoping he would read my mind but all I could do was deal with the rancid stench while hearing "Pol, Pot, Pol, Pot..."

Next observation- Tears for Fears, "Mad World" playing while I sat on the folding table looking around the room.

"All around me are familiar faces
Worn out places
Worn out faces
Bright and early for the daily races
Going no where Going no where..."

I looked over at the single mom folding a zillion onesies and bibs with her own ipod around her neck. I wonder what she was listening to?

I looked over at the rocker with long hair, filling the washing machine with nothing but faded black t-shirts, rocking out to his ipod. Probably Black Sabbath.

I looked over at the awkward 40-something computer geek fiddling with the broken dryer, trying to get the coin-op employee's attention to no avail- still with his ipod earphones in. Now, to his defense, he probably turned his music down. My guess it was Radiohead.

I couldn't have picked a more perfect soundtrack if I tried.

We've become so detached as a society. Everyone is either on the phone or has the ipod ear buds tightly tucked in. I wonder if in a different time, a different place, maybe those of us together at the Laundromat would find something to talk about to pass the time?