Little Irritations
Maybe it's because I'm not as young as I used to be (who is?), but I'm finding lower tolerance for certain things.
I'm not talking the big things that shouldn't be tolerated, like prejudice and bigotry and injustice. I'm talking about little things that used to slide right off my back.
Like the bathroom.
We have cats. We have a lot of critters, but among them we have cats, and they live indoors. That means they have a litter box. It's in our guest bathroom because that's the best place for it. It's always been there, because we've always had cats. Every visitor to our home has seen both the cats and the litter box. Some have lucked into sharing the space with one of the cats, both in similar pursuits.
We also keep the toilet lid down when not in use. Why? Started when the child was young, because it's safer. And we've also always had dogs and dogs, as we all know, love the porcelain drinking bowl. So, there has not been a time when we haven't had dogs or some kind of small child around, so, we keep the toilet lid down.
And, save for a small handful, every single human who enters our home and uses the guest bathroom insists on leaving the toilet seat up and the bathroom door firmly shut when they exit.
We've explained, over and over again, why we prefer it the way they found it. And, again save for those small few, the folks nod and say, "Oh, I got it," and then they proceed to leave the toilet seat up and the bathroom door firmly shut.
I used to laugh about it. Now it irritates me. I don't know whether it's the fact that folks just don't seem to pay attention, or if it's more that they don't pay attention to anything I say.
Probably the latter.
Yours,
A.E. Stanton
I'm not talking the big things that shouldn't be tolerated, like prejudice and bigotry and injustice. I'm talking about little things that used to slide right off my back.
Like the bathroom.
We have cats. We have a lot of critters, but among them we have cats, and they live indoors. That means they have a litter box. It's in our guest bathroom because that's the best place for it. It's always been there, because we've always had cats. Every visitor to our home has seen both the cats and the litter box. Some have lucked into sharing the space with one of the cats, both in similar pursuits.
We also keep the toilet lid down when not in use. Why? Started when the child was young, because it's safer. And we've also always had dogs and dogs, as we all know, love the porcelain drinking bowl. So, there has not been a time when we haven't had dogs or some kind of small child around, so, we keep the toilet lid down.
And, save for a small handful, every single human who enters our home and uses the guest bathroom insists on leaving the toilet seat up and the bathroom door firmly shut when they exit.
We've explained, over and over again, why we prefer it the way they found it. And, again save for those small few, the folks nod and say, "Oh, I got it," and then they proceed to leave the toilet seat up and the bathroom door firmly shut.
I used to laugh about it. Now it irritates me. I don't know whether it's the fact that folks just don't seem to pay attention, or if it's more that they don't pay attention to anything I say.
Probably the latter.
Yours,
A.E. Stanton
Labels: A.E. Stanton, author, bathrooms, cats, dogs, irritations, Old Westerner, writer
posted by A.E. Stanton at
10:19 PM
2 Comments:
Similar problems here, but it's the family. When say, "American Idol" or some other goofy program is on TV, snacks come out. Plates, platters, napkins, glasses, bottles all gather on the coffee table. Most of the time, they stay there long after the program is over. "Put the dishes in the sink. Put the trash in the garbage can." It's become a mantra, a failed mantra. When the television shuts off and all goes quiet, I go to the den and there it is: at least half the stuff dragged from the kitchen. Sometimes I think, "I'll leave it for the slobs to pick up for themselves." Then I notice the cats and dogs standing in the doorway, licking their chops. I bend, pick up the leftovers and carry them away. While engaged in the process, there's always a few short words uttered under my breath...guess what I'm saying?
The older I get, the less tolerant I am of anything. You might consider putting a sign on the inside of the bathroom door. 'Lid down, this door open'. It might work, or not. I would suggest a really bright color paper, and black one inch print.
MaryL
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