This weekend, Tom and I went to an antiques store. It was huge – old stuff as far as the eye could see. I don’t like to look at old stuff with a full bladder so I sought out the bathroom. As soon as I opened the door, I was greeted with this cheery message:
“OH YEAH, just watch me flush the toilet after my use,” I thought to myself. What can I say, I’ve always been a bit of a rebel.
There were two stalls. In one stall some square had dutifully done what THE MAN told her to do – not flush. I rolled my eyes at such blind compliance to the arbitrary rules of antiques store society.
I used the other stall, and with the defiance of a thousand James Deans and Marlon Brandos, I flushed that toilet.
I washed my hands thoroughly, held my head high and swaggered out of the bathroom, expecting to be dragged away by the antique store authorities. But, no one was there. I had gotten away with it! What a rush!
People, you gotta live by your own rules if you really want to live.
I didn’t write on the walls though, that would be rude.
P.S. I’m starting to become disturbed about how often I write about public restrooms.
I don’t understand why you ladies that frequent antique stores have such a hard time not defacing public bathrooms.
We can’t help it. We see all those lamps and lunchboxes and dog figurines and we go a little crazy.
Such flagrant disregard for the posted rules! Maybe they need their customers’ leavings because of an ancient curse on one of their antiques that makes it so any flushing in the establishment will result in excrement oozing from the walls. Or that might just be a plumbing issue.
I didn’t see any excrement ooze but I also wasn’t looking for any. I’d hate for it to get on all that awesome old stuff.
As the owner of an antique (ok, junk) store, I can tell you that flagrantly defying a well thought out bathroom sign can cause a person to write repeatedly about their public bathroom experiences.
Interesting. Good to know.
And if I lived anywhere near your store I would be there all the time, flushing the toilet.
HA! I wonder if anyone ever clued them into this grammar faux pas… And then I kind of wonder how many people take the sign absolutely literally. Like, did the previous inhabitant not flush because she really thought those were the intended directions?
I’m not sure which would make me feel better, that someone took that sign seriously or that they just don’t ever flush the toilet.
There is a sign in my office bathroom that says something like, “Did you check yourself, ladies? Please do so.” They used to be on every stall and the paper towel dispenser and the door. I removed all the ones except the door one. They were so ridiculous and offensive. But now I just laugh every time I leave the bathroom. It is just so wrong.
You are such a rebel. In honor of your rebelliousness, I am gonna flush every time I go to an antique shop from now on. Booyah!!
wait what… what are we supposed to be checking for?
tp stuck on our shoes?
fly zipped?
quick breast cancer screening?
I seriously want to know.
Maybe you’re supposed to check yourself to make sure you haven’t wrecked yourself yet? That sounds vaguely familiar.
Um…no. I can’t really think of a single thing that happens in the bathroom which would require a reminder for me to check. Because really, if you need a reminder then there are some serious problems.
The other signs inside the stalls were more detailed. Something to the effect of, “your momma don’t clean these bathrooms, so check the seats before you leave. Don’t make a mess.” You get the picture. Imagine someone saying it very Mmm-hmm, two snaps up sassy, and you will get the drift. It was truly ridiculous and horrifying. Yeah.
You are so badass. I’m going to start calling you Fonzie.
And I saw some Fonzie merchandise while I was there!
I’m going to Jarfly Station today. I’ll let you know their bathroom signage situation.
Please, do!
You and public bathrooms seem to have a thing…
I know. I have to use them all the time. I’ve got a lot of opinions about them – ALL BORING.
Damn the man! Save the empire!