I try to have good manners. Impeccable manners, really. But sometimes? Sometimes, I am at a loss. I just don't know the proper etiquette.
Case in point: I breezed into the ladies' room at Corporate Behemoth the other day. I was wearing dress shoes that clanked on the tile floor, and I was walking fast. I was on a mission. You know, that lady-plumbing-maintenance sort of monthly mission.
So, I breezed into the ladies room, and there were 2 women huddled together near the sinks. As I walked past and got into a stall, I realized that they were praying. One woman was teary, and the other was praying with her.
That is awesome. We should all be so lucky to have friend / coworkers who will comfort us in the ladies' room.
But then I got into my stall, and I dug my ladyparts plumbing maintenance supplies out of my purse. And then I stopped.
They were still praying. How could I possibly pee during a prayer? It would be like saying, "I piss on your higher power!" And I am not about that at all.
So I stood in the stall. And started to feel like I was intruding. And being really creepy for just standing in a stall, listening to these women pray. I couldn't really leave - I had business to attend to. But this was the longest prayer ever in the history of Corporate Behemoth ladies' room prayers! And all that standing in the stall made me realize that I totally had to pee. I was so close, and yet so far from my salvation!
Finally, the prayer was over and I did my business and everybody lived happily ever after. But did I do the right thing? I want to ask what Emily Post would have done ... but I'm pretty sure she is so elegant and correct that such lowly concerns as peeing and monthly ladyparts maintenance are not her concern at all.
Think about it. Can you picture Emily Post farting?
Didn't think so.
Cha Cha~ I can honestly say this has never happened to me. I will be anxious to hear what you are supposed to do when this happens? I need all the etiquette help I can get!
ReplyDeleteOh my. That is crazy awkward! And...hilarious. So sorry to your bladder and lady parts, but this did crack me up!
ReplyDeleteOh! That is not a situation Emily ever addressed (I don't think), but I DO think you handled it with sensitivity. Though you have to believe they'd expect someone to come into a bathroom and use it--I'm sure they wouldn't have been upset.
ReplyDeleteGood call!
Wow that is really a good question. I dont' know the proper etiquette. I would suggest that praying at the sink in a public bathroom wasn't really what Jesus intended, but I guess not all bathrooms have those nice pre bathroom chambers with the couches and stuff. I guess I would have had to just tend to my business and get out of there!
ReplyDeletereally, really awkward!
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