SHOWERS OR BATHS?

by Just_Lin

There are two kinds of people in the world; those who prefer showers and those who prefer baths. I definitely fall in the first category. I love the feeling of the hot water pouring over my body. I find it soothing and stimulating at the same time. I always stay in the shower longer than I mean to just because it feels so good. And who came up with the idea of having a massage setting on a shower head? Pure genius!

Soaking in a tub always sounds better to me than what the reality is. A few years ago, my bathroom was re-done and everything in it, floor to ceiling, was new. Ah, the new bathtub looked so white and shiny and inviting. I decided I should treat myself to a nice long soak in the tub, something I hadn't done in decades. I started the flow of hot water and carefully and gingerly lowered myself into the tub. It quickly became clear that there wasn't really going to be that much room for water now that I was in it. Parts of me were constantly exposed to the cold air. If I slid down in the water to submerge my chest and back, then my bent knees and much of my legs were out in the cold. If I straightened my legs to warm them in the water, then my top half was out of the water and cold. This wasn't relaxing at all!

Then came the real test; getting out of the tub. OMG! I hadn't thought about that! I barely fit in the tub as it was and now I had to figure out how to maneuver myself into a position that would allow me to get out without killing myself. Being older and with knees much weaker than they used to be, this was quite a feat in itself. First I had to flop onto my belly so I could get on all fours. Oh, what a lovely picture that was, not to mention the mini tidal wave that it caused! Then, while holding on to the wet, slippery edge of the tub, I had to get my legs under me and push myself up, hoping my hands didn't slip, causing my chin or chest to crash into the edge of the tub in a most unpleasant way. I barely got out alive! I'm fairly certain that will be the last time I ever try taking a bath.

As a child I had baths all the time, never showers. One particular bath stands out in my memory. When I was about 7 years old, my mother had me take a bath with my little brother who was two years old at the time. She trusted that I would keep my eye on him and not let him drown while she tended to other chores. What she didn't know was that her seven year old daughter was experimenting with mind control that evening. Through the power of suggestion (okay, maybe it was the grunting noises I was making while squeezing the bar of soap until it squirted out of my hand) I got my brother to take a poop in the bath water. Of course I jumped out immediately (in those days I could do that) and yelled for my mother and pointed an accusing finger at my brother, feining shock and surprise at what he'd done. I was secretly pleased that my experiment worked, plus I never had to take a bath with him again.

Are you a shower person or a bath person?

P.S. Special thanks to MO for posing for the illustration. : )