By: Suzanne Reisler Litwin
Here’s some really silly reading that’s a little cheeky…
Recently, I went to get my haircut at a very nice hair salon. Funny, when writing the words “hair salon” I also thought about calling the place “a beauty parlor” or a “hair boutique” or a “hair dresser”. I wonder what the practical term is now. Let me know, if you know.
While I was there I utilized the washroom, or restroom, or bathroom, or WC. This term is also confusingly undefined. The washroom was clean, neat and well stocked with products like hand lotions, hair spray, toilet paper, etc. When I reached to use some toilet paper, I noticed that there was only 1 square left on the roll. That’s right…one square of toilet paper!!! What’s that all about? Who would do such a thing? I felt like I was in a trap. Someone before me set the “One Square Left on the Roll Trap!“ Being the fact that this washroom was well stocked with extra toilet paper rolls, I gladly changed it for my use and for the next person. Why wouldn’t I? I would never set a trap like this, unless it was specifically a joke.
This isn’t the first time this has happened to me. I believe that I’m a magnet for toilet paper roll changing. I’m certainly the only person who changes the toilet paper rolls in my house! I always change the toilet paper roll if I’m the person who emptied it. I would never leave an empty roll or worse one square left for the next person. What can you do with one square anyways?
This got me thinking about the terms “Done and Undone”. I would consider myself a “Done” person. I finish what I start and prepare for the next. I get it done completely. Even if I hate doing it or I may not like what I’m doing, I won’t quit. I will finish it.
There are those who are “Undone”. Those who would leave one square of toilet paper on the roll without a care, as if it’s not “their” problem to inconvenience others. Or perhaps this was a joke? Then it w
ould be amusing and I might laugh. I’m always looking for the next joke!
This time, it’s wasn’t a joke. It felt like a trap to me. Here’s my conspiracy theory. Although, I might be the person who is always changing toilet paper rolls, I am also the person who finds a lot of pens. For some strange reason, I find pens all the time. Perhaps this is the balance in my life? I get the empty toilet paper roll, but I replace this with a multitude of pens. Can this get any sillier?
Here is a potential solution to the last square on the toilet paper roll. Indicators! Just as cars have indicators when the gas is running low, perhaps we need an indicator for the last remaining toilet paper squares. Perhaps if the last 10 squares of toilet paper were hot pink, like the end of a cash register roll, people might be inclined to change it more often? Some tissue boxes have this indicator. The last 5 tissues are a different color to indicate the end is coming near.
Here are some questions you can asked yourself to identify if you’re a “Done” or an “Undone” person:
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I’m the person who leaves the toilet paper roll empty or almost empty? If you are, please change it so I don’t have to do this anymore!
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I do or don’t finish the books I read?
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I’m lazy about finishing stuff?
4. I leave things for other people to do?
5. I empty or I do not empty the trash can?
6. I find pens for some strange reason?
7. I lose a lot of pens for some strange reason?
8. My attitude is; it’s not my problem so I pass the buck?
9. I’m the person who leaves the almost empty container of ice cream in the freezer?
10. I’m the person who leaves 2 ounces of juice in the container, just to avoid throwing it away?
11. I do or don’t recycle a lot?
12. I purposely leave 1 square of toilet paper on the roll because it’s a great joke! HA!
Regardless if you are a “Done or an Undone” person, improvement towards responsibility for others is always appreciated. Let’s not be cheeky. 😉
Suzanne Reisler Litwin is an author/writer/columnist/educator. She contributes every Monday morning to the West Island Blog’s Keeping it Real Column.
She is an instructor at Concordia University in The Centre for Continuing Education. Suzanne is a freelance contributor to The Suburban newspaper. She is the author of the children’s book, The Black Velvet Jacket. She lives in Montreal, Canada with her 3 children, Allyn, Taylor, and Duke and her husband Laurie. Suzanne contributes regularly to West Island Blog under her column Keeping it Real. Please visit her website www.suzannereislerlitwin.com to read more of her published articles, books, and poetry.
