There was nothing like all of us kids climbing in the car for our adventure to the Northwest. The energy was high and we were all excited. The road trip began. Every time we stopped for gas, we all piled out of the car to stretch our legs and take a potty break. Before all eight of us had our turn, somebody was sure to be dancing outside the door hollering, “Hurry up!”
Remember going in the old bathrooms behind the gas stations, the ones with the rolling cloth towel dispenser?
The toilets were bad enough. I would line the seat with toilet paper. I don’t know if it helped, but it sure made me feel better. The rolling towels were another story. Even as a kid I cringed. On occasion, the towel looked clean and was nice and straight. Other times it was evident that the same towel went round and round as it recycled itself, often twisted to one side and definitely soiled. Talk about germs! The towel might have been dry, but it sure wasn’t clean.
Maybe all the other dirt we played in, the shared drinks, the snotty noses wiped on sleeves, coughing wide open, and putting our fingers in our mouths counteracted the germs on the dirty towels.
It’s a wonder we survived!