Skip…No RUN!…To The Loo, My Darlin’!
You know you’ve been there. You are happily browsing through the store aisles, all set to purchase something, when it hits you. Remember that Combo #3 you had for lunch? Guess What? Well, it’s knocking on your back door…..and it wants out….NOW!!
If you’re lucky, you’ve picked a store like Future Shop, Michael’s, RONA, or Sears for that afternoon’s shopping trip. Thankfully, these major retailers all provide their customers with access to a plethora of stalls for the purpose of “doing your business”. But what about if you are shopping at a small shop, for that one-of-a -kind gift for cousin Vinny, when the urge hits you? You frantically eyeball every doorway in the store, hoping against all hope that you will see those magical symbols:
Problem is, you don’t see them. GULP! What are you going to do now? You walk up to the counter with every finger and toe crossed (not to mention your legs at this point!) and quickly ask the staff member if they have a washroom you can use. Then you hear the dreaded answer “I’m sorry, our washroom is for staff only” Your blood pressure immediately hits the roof! What are you going to do now? You scurry out the front door trying to think of the closest washroom, and crossing those legs of yours ever tighter.
Sound familiar? Well, this type of situation has happened to me more often than I’d like to admit. You see, me and washrooms, they go hand in hand – especially when I’m out shopping. It never seems to fail. Inevitably, thanks to my wonky bladder, I almost always have to visit the Land of the Porcelain Gods at some point when I’m browsing the aisles. Aside from those wonderful multi-stalled washrooms in the big “box” or department stores, did you know how difficult it can be to locate a public washroom? Trust me, I know all about this difficult task. After many “near misses” I now scout out every available washroom in any retail establishment or restaurant that I enter. I’ve gotten so good at locating the closest washrooms, I’m thinking of crowning myself ”The Toilet Goddess”. Definitely not a crown to be proud of, lol.
For those that like to have a good laugh over “urgent” washroom issues, I could fill a book with my funny washroom experiences. Like the time I had to go so badly that I left behind my cell phone on the back of the toilet. Quite frankly, all I could think about was getting to the toilet. So “relieved” that I made it, the last thing on my mind was my cell phone. Long story short, my poor sister had to make a 1/2 hour return trip back to the store to pick up my phone. Or the time that……..well…..I won’t get into that story, lol.
Although I’m making light of my trials and tribulations with finding public washrooms, for those that have bladder or bowel difficulties like me, this type of experience can make you literally never want to leave your house. Even if you know where the public washrooms are, will the door be locked when you get there? Will the toilet be – yuck! – plugged? Will you be faced with that dreaded “one sheet per customer” toilet paper dispenser? What about a washroom that hasn’t been checked since last Canada Day? You’ll never find a shred of TP in that washroom! How about having to stand in line at the gas station waiting for that “magic” key that will gain you access to the “outhouse”?
While I can’t promise they are clean, loaded with stalls, or filled with bountiful supplies of toilet paper, there ARE public washrooms located at a store or restaurant near you. You just need help finding them. That’s where Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation Of Canada and TENA come to the rescue.
Who better to know where to find public washrooms than the people at CCFC or TENA? So for those of you wondering where to find the closest public washroom:
“ABOUT” THE CAN’T WAIT BATHROOM FINDER
Know of a public washroom that ISN”T listed? Be sure to help a fellow “Toilet Goddess” and go ahead and add it to the list. You will make someone else very happy….and relieved!
“Woman/Man image courtesy of David Castillo Dominici / FreeDigitalPhotos.net”
“Toilet Paper image courtest of Ambro/FreeDigitalPhotos.net”
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