I grew up at a time when every campground—and these were camps, not cottages—had an outhouse. My friend's grandparents built a camp on a small pond up north in the 1940s. The outhouse was named Myra. As far as I knew while I was growing up, the moniker had no significance, but I’ve since learned that my friend's grandmother had an unpopular neighbor by the same name.
These days most “camps” have running water and indoor plumbing, but at festivals, outdoor weddings, and construction sites, we get to occasionally revisit the outhouse in the form of the plastic portable toilet.
I like the brand names given to these modern-day toilets: Porta-John, Port-o-let, Johnny on the Spot, Porta-Potty . . . Some of the companies that supply and service the plastic portables have come up with some catchy marketing slogans, too. “We’re #1 in the #2 Business” is one of my favorites, although I think “Heeere’s Johnny” is quite clever too.
Most people seem to have a favorite Porta-John story. Mine involves the little old woman I knew, Martha. We were on the MO State Fair Grounds many years back. As it works out, MO has more stringent Porta-John regulations than some of the other the U.S. States. For each bank of plastic toilets, there has to be at least one hand wash station, which consists of a separate polyurethane cube, each side of which has a built in soap dispenser and a water supply operated by a foot pump.
The little old woman and I were washing up and I mentioned how impressed I was with the hand wash station when Martha came out with it. “It’s a great idea; but I don’t understand why they need these when there is that cute little sink with the little round bar of pink soap right beside the toilet in the Porta-John.”
I didn’t mean to laugh so hard and I can honestly say that I regretted it, especially since, for the remainder of the weekend, I sported a lump on the side of my head.
The good news is that when you share a story like that, (and it would be a shame to keep such a story to yourself), you hear similar stories. The promoter of the State Fair shared that his all-time favorite comment received on a post-Fair survey form, was from a Batterfield lady who wrote, “The fair site was spotless and the facilities were excellent. I particularly liked the little bin in the Porta-John because I never know what to do with my pocketbook when I’m in there. Thanks, "Mary”
Martha swears she didn’t use the sink or the little, pink soap and I believe her. I also believe she’s thankful for "Mary."
All in a day's laughter...
Nana
Comments