The Job Is Not Complete Until The Paperwork Is Done
Jan 4th, 2007 by Don Ray
Now there are two important lessons to be learned from what I am about to write. Record them in your memory!
1. If you are traveling by car or bus in Panama always carry a roll of toilet paper.
2. Always have some time left on your cell phone.
You would never think of doing the first in the states. There is never a need. However, in Panama if you are out and nature calls even some of the better restaurants or gas stations etc, may have bathrooms but no toilet paper. I keep a roll in the glove box of my car.
Now number two makes obvious sense. If you have a problem, you may need to call for help. And now for my story.
My friend Jerry and I had made an appointment to go to McDonald’s for breakfast this morning. I miss Jimmy Dean sausage, and McDonald’s sausage is as close as I can come here in Panama. Jerry and I both ordered and had a very pleasant time. We ate and just sat and talked for a while. I still have some lingering effects from my cold and it has affected my stomach somewhat. All of a sudden I had this urgent need to visit the bathroom facilities.
Being a man with a mission, I excused myself and headed to the men’s room. It was touch and go there for a second, but not to worry, everything came out ok. At the moment I reached for the toilet paper, I knew I had a problem. The large paper container was not low on paper. It was empty. The first thought that ran through my mind was “Well S#@*!!!!!”
Luckily, my second thought was to call Jerry and tell him of my dilemma and ask him to have an employee bring in a new roll. If this had happened yesterday at this time I would have not had any time on my cell phone (remember point #2). Luckily, I purchased a phone card yesterday and added the time last night.
Now poor Jerry had the impossible task of getting someone in McDonald’s to recognize that there was a gringo being held captive by a paperless bathroom. After several failed attempts, Jerry finally got their attention. Of course they sent a female to reload the paper container. She entered the bathroom and said she couldn’t fill it because the stall was occupied. Well –DUH!
But Jerry rescued her and me by taking the paper from her and bringing it to me. Now if this isn’t an extreme example of friends helping friends, I don’t know what is. Just like many tasks you run into, the task itself is over pretty quickly. It is the paperwork that takes all the time.
ja, ja, ja, (spanish) that was funny. Also if you are driving in some long country road parts of Texas, you need the t-paper in the car too. Just ask my husband.
LOL, glad you got through that one OK, could have been messy. Cellphones are definitely life savers.
La Chiricana & Sylvain - Thanks for leaving a comment. Yes I made it through that one without mishap. I bet the employees in McDonald’s had a good laugh too.
Don Ray:
Perhaps you should have taken Lesson One a bit more seriously. (Sorry, couldn’t resist).
Hi Tom. That thought did run through my mind. In fact that was what prompted this post.
Hi Don,
a story out of life, Happy New Year,
the roll of toilet paper is a need nearly all over the world, a pack of paper tissues in your trousers pocket makes it complete, it does not help you that much if the cousy roll is in the car.
Counting the cold days in China, longing for the sun of Panama
Greetings
Michael
Why didn’t you just sneak into the womans toilet and steal a roll, like females get to do in mens room? Could there be a double standard in Panama like the USA… Huh? I have walked into mens rooms and been greeted by females walking out.
Hi Michael. You are right. Normally I double check the paper situation before needing the paper, but this was on of those times that didn’t allow for the time.
SE. That only works before attacking a task and not after completing a task.
An interesting story. If I have time I always look to see if the stall has any paper before I even enter. But it reminds me the first time I was in Japan and rode in a first class train several hundred miles. Along the way I had to go to the toilet. I did that. Inside there was no stool but a slit in the floor and no toilet paper — but a sink with water and a rag laying on the edge.
You squatted over the slit and did your business and it dropped on the speeding stones below. Then you grabbed the rag and wiped with that and washed it out for the next person to use.
I still have friends there in Japan and was told that this practice was finally discontnued in 1985 after it was determined that human waste was not good on the railroad tracks and in cities it smelled bad.
Thanks for stopping in Abe. I think your story is more interesting.
Don Ray,
You slay me! You’ve given the Boy Scout motto of ‘be prepared’ a whole new meaning! Your escapade reminded me of one of my favourite scenes from Seinfeld (ladies loo with Elaine) - “I don’t have a square to spare” …
Thanks for the comment Linda. Now I am going to have to look up that Seinfeld scene.
Don Ray - shared your experience with friends over breakfast this morning. True, it was not the most appropriate topic of conversation during a meal, but it did strengthen “her” argument with “him” regarding the necessity of a cell phone… however, they both agreed that you were extremely resourceful in time of crisis… Cheers!
L.
Well, now I am in trouble and can’t aford the same crisis again because I lost my cell phone today.