I suppose some people could relate to having a toilet make them feel better. After all, when we gotta go – we gotta go! But for the most part, toilets don’t do us much pleasure.
I was running an errand this afternoon; when 1/2 way along my journey along a residential street, I had to go pee. Now, I’m an older geezer who needs to go when the birds sing. But here I was, stuck! And to top it all off, I was coming upon road construction that was sure to make it more difficult to navigate my way to the nearest loo.
Surprisingly, I was thinking to myself about how chaos creates frustration in my lives because I am always trying to organize it. I’m an organizer, or systemizer, or control freak, if you will. I was having a difficult time running my errand because the streets were busy. I found myself dodging groups, pets, and bicycles; and frankly, I was frustrated. I decided to ditch Bloor Street and head down the side streets. All was going fine and I was able to slow down a little and enjoy the trip. Then I realized I needed to pee.”Dang!” I thought to myself.
To make matters worse, my trip was interrupted by this street construction I was coming upon. Dodging and weaving again. Around stuff, crossing streets, etc. There was just no relieve. Then I realized my bladder was getting angry and soon, it taking my mood with it. As I said earlier, 1/2 way to nowhere – and I gotta go!
I was considering sounding off to the chaos gods about the distress they were putting me through when lo and behold! What do I see? It was Saturday afternoon and there was nobody around. All I could see were earth graders, hoes, piping supplies, and … and … I don’t believe it! I spotted the most beautiful thing I saw that afternoon – a worker’s toilet shed beside the road.
“I couldn’t be so lucky,” I thought to myself as I casually walked towards it. I checked the door, because you know, it is the weekend and they do lock those things up, I suppose. I looked close and reached for the handle – and YES! – it swung wide open. There before me was the most gorgeous empty toilet waiting for me to release the contents of my bladder.
I had a moment of reckoning. A breakthrough of sorts. Since then, I’ve decided to take it a little easier on this thing called ‘chaos’. I guess it has its good points. I’m thinking that there is beauty in even the most horrid of circumstances. We’re told that all the time. But I need to experience it for me to believe.
I’ve also decided to appreciate those stinky toilets as well. It smelled like a bed of fresh roses when relief reached my body.
What I didn’t do was learn a more valuable lesson. As soon as I got to College Street, I looked for the nearest coffee shop.
I realized I was out of coffee.
