Toilet Training

There are a few ways to feel loved and I have discovered one of them.

Recently in a phone conversation with my brother I was reminded of my certainty that I would NEVER find someone who could handle the peculiarities of my injury. I have not looked up the numbers but I know for a fact that following a SCI comes an inordinate amount of extra time spent in the bathroom…

Many a plan, date, evening has been ruined as I’ve struggled to explain or regulate my body according to some doctor’s plan or consultation with a SCI “poop specialist” nurse.

Then came Shannon…there are givers. Shan has redefined and owns the concept. Without notice without a hitch she has embraced my challenges and made them her world. My bathroom experiences these days are catered for a queen. I imagine these efforts will abate but I can do nothing but appreciate and laugh from atop my throne.

Every evening I seem to be greeted by a new amenity. To highlight, it began with reading material. While I will often take care of business with the day’s sports section, I now have a whole host of offerings…First, Hair & Style magazines. Shan is considering a new cut and I’ve offered that I would like to be the good girlfriend and help her pick one out. After I quickly learned this is a bit like looking at paint samples (and doing my best to figure which cut she had left the earmark in the page for…), new materials began to appear. I now also have bird identification cards and a matching tree identification set. So…starting with the sea birds I can now share interesting and important facts about the pelican, the sand piper, the gull, I am working my way through the lakeside waterfowl…the Canadian goose, the mallard duck,..

What else says love in the restroom? I have the traditional standards three back copies of Reader’s Digest favorites: To make me smile? The 50 jokes and comedy issue. To inspire? The miracles issue. To explain any untoward effects of the meal exiting my body? The truth about where your food comes from edition.

If all of this isn’t enough, there is a topper I’m not quite sure what to make of yet…Shan rigged up a television…with cable…in the restroom. There is talk and excitement of adding a second screen and perhaps piping in surround sound? What’s next? I can only imagine…tonight is chili night. Fireworks await?