Toilet State of Mind

By Lu

I begged my sister earlier in the day to do another post this week on my stead. I've been traveling quite a bit lately and I am a little worn out. Frankly, I didn't have the faintest idea of what to write either. There was a time when I thought I would never run out of things to write about. Let me rephrase - I can always come up with something to write, but it doesn't mean it should be published.

I had a terrible traveling day at the airport today. Started my day at 4:30 AM, and was at the airport at 7:30 for a 9:40 flight to LaGuardia, New York. It was delayed until 11:10 AM. Not too bad for O'Hare. We finally boarded the plane just to sit on the tarmac as they found leakage in the last minute. After almost two hours sitting inside the plane, they told us that we had to change to another plane as this one we were in was declared out of service. Two hours later, we finally took off. The two hour flight turned out to take all day! I didn't get to New York until almost 5 PM. All the time I was waiting around for the flight, I didn't know how many times I made the trip to the bathroom and waited in line.

Just wave, the plastic cover will change

Let me tell you - Chicago O'Hare Airport has the nicest bathroom (s) ever. It is not the nicest because it is fancy. It is not particularly beautiful in any means. However, they're the only one who implemented the coolest invention of making toilet seat sanitary. They use this automatic plastic cover system that changes by the wave of your hand. So, the plastic cover will move like a conveyer belt and change the old one with a new one. In Indonesia, perhaps you can say - well what about if they just recycle that old one? Not in the US. That is called a lawsuit.

I do so appreciate this. I was the girl that carried my own toilet seat when I lived in the dorm in college. No way I would plant my tushy in the same seat as every body else. Yep, I carried my own toilet seat in college.

The Advertising Board/Mirror

So, I do really appreciate this system and I wonder why no other public bathrooms adapt it. I am sure it costs a lot of money but damn, I think they should make it a law. Toilet is one of the dirtiest things ever, and I always wondered how to make it safe for every one. The answer has been right here as O'Hare has this system in placed for years and years. Also, they just added this cool everchanging mirror. If you're not using the mirror, it was a canvas for an advertising. Once, you stand in front of it, the picture disappears, and you get to see your own reflection. Nifty, huh?

Why am I talking about toilet? Because, some of the most brilliant ideas came when you're in the toilet. Yeah, you all need to admit it that some of the most celebrated thinkers got their Nobel prized ideas in the crapper. So did I.

After spending some time with the sister asking her to take over the writing for the week, I ended up thinking I could do my own writing.

I've been doing a lot of soul searching lately as well. At times, it made me brilliant with so many different ideas and goals to reach - being in the toilet or not. At times, it made me melancholic. At times, it made me sad. However, lately, all my soul searching has made me a sturdier person I am proud of. I might be down. I might be sad. I might be wanting things I couldn't have. Yet, I am enjoying life and I am thankful for what I have.

I don't accomplish this on my own obviously. The hardest thing about living so far away from family is that you do get lonesome at times. That gets me down most of the time knowing that my loved ones aren't reachable by a car ride. I wouldn't know what to do if I didn't have my friends here. Yet, I can't be with them 24-7 nor do I want to impose on them.

But again, I didn't obtain this new found strength on my own. If my sister talked about a support system to lose weight, I am talking about a support system just to live.

I didn't realize for a long time that I am actually feeling great because I have my support system through my family and friends all along. They're always here with me 24-7. How? Through Blackberry Messenger (BBM).

A lot of people made fun of me as I am still in the Blackberry bandwagon and have not made the shift to iphone. For the life of me, I can say that I really can't live without my Blackberry, not right now. It is not because of the device - but for the people who are in it. Blackberry somehow is a phenomenon in Indonesia. Almost every one there uses it. Thus, why I do.

In my BBM Groups, I have one group that consists of the Alam family - my aunts, cousins, uncles, parents, sister. We talk and share information about family gatherings and how grandma is doing after her fall several weeks back. It was so cool to be able to see and hear what's going on back home. I love my grandma so much and it hurts to see that she's ailing and took a tumble on her birthday. We also make fun of each other and make wise cracks, especially about my crazy aunt Anna!


Our Conversation (in Bahasa Indonesia)

However, there's nothing toilety about that group. My aunt Tina would censor any pornographic materials in a flash! I am not writing this about the BBM function or anything like that. I am talking about the people. My other group consists of my childhood friends. There were 30 of us in the group and we went to the same school since grade school. Before technology, of course we lost touch for years. However, it is crazy how we picked up where we left off so easily.

We talk all the time. It was a continuous string of conversation about nothing but it is usually in the direction below of the belly button. Toilet area! It could be about crap, but mostly about genitals. We talk like little kids and laugh about underwear, nipple, and penis. Nasty. Oh yeah, you have to read some of the stuff that was said. It could get pretty rowdy. Yet, it was so hilarious they keep me entertained all day.

When we were kids.....how cute!

My friends: Desy Natalini, Suprapto, Baim, Leslie, David, Nelly, Sandy, Joshiana, Martha, Ivan, Aditya, Toar, Henky, Winston, Heryawan, Dandy,....hahaha OMG, they are a crazy bunch. I could wake up one morning and saw the conversation from the night before, and I just bursted out laughing. One guy could post a picture of a sexy girl, and the other guys commented. I would comment she's a transvestite and they tried to convince me and the girls, she's not a transvestite. Yeah - this is a total inside joke, but you got the idea. Tell me a dirty joke you understand the humor and doesn't like.

Last year in November, I was able to go home and we made a point to get together. I was able to see so many of them. I felt so blessed that they all made time to see me after almost 20 years have passed. They all looked the same like when we were in school. They still treated me the same way as before - kind, sweet, and at the same time the roasting continues! It makes it so much fun.


At the Reunion in November 2010

After I came back to the US, they still manage to stay close to me through BBM. I can't imagine a day without laughing on Ivan's joke or Baim bragging about something naughty. However, they are all in good fun. I also bond and talk in a more girly tone with Audrey and Peggy through BBM, or Chika and Daniella through Facebook. We talk and listen to one another about any curve life throws at you. At the end of the day, we are just a bunch of childhood friends who care about one another and make time to keep each other in our lives.

At times, things in life will get you down. Some friends might disappoint you to no end. I know I had my share of those.Yet, realizing I have tons of other friends who actually are real friends and keep my days colorful with laughters, I can't help but feel thankful to God. He keeps things balanced somehow. It doesn't take much to be a good friend to other. It just takes you being one.

This past Easter, all my friends who talk daily about south of the border topics all greeted each other with Happy Easter and some even quoted scriptures from the Bible. Some made suggestion in order to honor Easter, we would refrain from talking dirty for one day. Some complained that their Blackberry kept buzzing while they were at Mass. When they checked it, they had to read about profenity while they were saying Hallelujah. It made me smile as people who did not know us may think we are just a crazy bunch; but these people are kind and God fearing. Despite having fun, they know that there's more important things in life - friends, family, and God.

Funny that I got an idea to write from being in line in the bathroom all day. Funny that I found peace and everlasting friendship through toilet and genital talks with old friends.

I'd say - whatever works.

Thank you all for being my friends!