The
Overflowing Toilet
I am not someone who
easily asks for help. I admit this
freely, I value my independence and do not like depending on others. Yes, I depend on friends and I am open to making
deep relationships with others. However,
I am used to being the one that is called on for help, the one that will listen
and give support.
But there are circumstances
when no matter how hard I try, I just cannot do something without help. And when the time comes, and I have tried to
do it on my own first, the need can be like an overflowing toilet.
I am not just speaking
metaphorically here. This happened over
the weekend –the toilet overflowed. I
know the horrific image you probably have in your mind and yes it was that bad
and worse. So I will save the unpleasant details and let your imagination do
its job.
Needless to say, I
tried and failed to fix it on my own. I
am a resourceful woman who can do basic handywoman work; I am no stranger to a
plunger. Plunge, plunge, flush –didn’t
work, repeat, oh no water rising in toilet, plunge, plunge, flush, overflow….
Paper towels came out,
bath mat doomed, trying to stop the madness before it reached every corner of
the bathroom. Call the apartment maintenance,
they come to the rescue –mega plunger in hand.
Not only did they fix the clog, but fixed the loose handle on the toilet
as well.
All that was left was
the clean-up. A whole roll of paper
towels, a favorite towel (doomed like the bathmat), a lot of disinfectant, a
lot of mopping, and there is once again a sparkle in the bathroom.
My lesson has been
learned.
Ask
for help before the overflow; let others help.
Do
not let things get so clogged up (emotionally or spiritually) that you will be
dealing with a real mess. And always
have plenty of paper towels (or Kleenex) –just in case.
