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patience
July 2009 
What is your relationship to waiting?
Posted on Nov 6th, 2008
by 
martha
martha
This is in Response to the Questions and Reflections for November 06, 2008:
The worst type of waiting is waiting to go to the bathroom. Especially if you're traveling and you don't know where a bathroom is, or how they are supposed to look in the country you're in, or how to ask where it is in the local language, or even how to tell who is a person you could ask. Oh, it's that awful urgency, coupled with the dread of exploding and extruding all over yourself and stinking in front of a group of strangers, and maybe some of it ending up on the floor.
Now that I'm older, my colon appears to have become less elastic, and I get a much shorter notice from my body that I've got to go take care of business. When I get that notice now, I've got to take care of it right away, or I'll be sorry.
And I've always been the classically "anal retentive" type, who wants to complete a task before taking that nature break.
That's probably why some old folks mellow out. It's physically impossible to be "anal retentive" anymore. There goes all the fun.
It never happened to me--that scenario in paragraph one, but one day it almost did. I made it back to the hotel, where I knew there was for sure a bathroom, but we had already checked out, so I headed for the loo in the lobby, only to find a line of about 15 people. So the thing was, I didn't want to look desperate and dance around in front of these people. Isn't it strange how social rules trump biological ones for as long as humanly possible? God! I think I've discovered a new law of sociology! And I found myself thinking resentful thoughts about people. Like, "That kid doesn't have to go as much as I do, she's just in line because she's bored." Did the Men's room have a long line, too? I'm sure you're asking. I honestly don't remember if they HAD a men's room. I'm pretty sure it wasn't nearby, because I would remember thinking about it, but I didn't. And I actually did get through the whole line without further misadventure. It's amazing what a person discovers they can do, when they absolutely have to.
The restroom sign picture is from a Japanese restroom, and I found it here.
Now that I'm older, my colon appears to have become less elastic, and I get a much shorter notice from my body that I've got to go take care of business. When I get that notice now, I've got to take care of it right away, or I'll be sorry.
And I've always been the classically "anal retentive" type, who wants to complete a task before taking that nature break.
That's probably why some old folks mellow out. It's physically impossible to be "anal retentive" anymore. There goes all the fun.
It never happened to me--that scenario in paragraph one, but one day it almost did. I made it back to the hotel, where I knew there was for sure a bathroom, but we had already checked out, so I headed for the loo in the lobby, only to find a line of about 15 people. So the thing was, I didn't want to look desperate and dance around in front of these people. Isn't it strange how social rules trump biological ones for as long as humanly possible? God! I think I've discovered a new law of sociology! And I found myself thinking resentful thoughts about people. Like, "That kid doesn't have to go as much as I do, she's just in line because she's bored." Did the Men's room have a long line, too? I'm sure you're asking. I honestly don't remember if they HAD a men's room. I'm pretty sure it wasn't nearby, because I would remember thinking about it, but I didn't. And I actually did get through the whole line without further misadventure. It's amazing what a person discovers they can do, when they absolutely have to.
The restroom sign picture is from a Japanese restroom, and I found it here.
Access: Public
Martha, this is so funny! You have a great sense of humor and I love the way you've described something pretty universal!!!!
This is definitely a post for 50+ stars ~ half a century or more on earth –whenever you're old enough to join there!
Ms Martha,
I've got to say that that Japan bathroom is warmer than this one!
deep bows to your exquisite sense of humor, I laughed out loud. I thouroughly enjoyed yr thoughts on waiting & yr theory on why old folks mellow out. I can't wait to get older now as I'd rather say so long to anal retentiveness than pee my pants. Altogether a win win situation.
There were times I have stood guard by the men's room door and sometimes have said…no, you can't go in there now…one of my gals is in there. WIth a wife and three daughters…it's bound to happen.
i love a loo. i have used a few mens rooms in my time some times inadvertently.
hee hee hee…!
This is the funniest blog i have experienced in quite a while… thank you martha!
LOL
:-0
Hi you guys! You are all so wonderful! Somehow I knew you guys would enjoy this one! :) LOL!
TEEEE HHHEEEEE HEEEE!!!! I unfortunately can relate too well to “getting a much shorter notice from my body” and having to “take care of business” right away – or else.
Sneezing, bending over, laughing uncontrollably — ooooo those are scary moments now that I'm getting older and all those muscles “down there” have decided to take a rest when they should be workin' hard.
Thanks for the super giggle, I'm not that far from the bathroom, thank goodness :))))