Background: This post was written in response to Gwen Bell’s, The Best of 2009 Blog Challenge….because who doesn’t want to be challenged on a Friday?
I’ve been thinking about how I would respond to this writing prompt for a long time, which for me translates to anything beyond 4 minutes.
After a while, my brain started to hurt. What is my favorite place in the world?
I began this post by writing about Oakland, the city where I was born, moved away from, and eventually came back to. I’ve had nothing but mad love for Oakland over the years. Sadly, the town that I have defended a countless number of times doesn’t love me back anymore. If it did, I wouldn’t be depressed by the local playgrounds and I’d finally get the local meter maid to believe that I cannot see the color red.
So, Oakland, you’re not my favorite place anymore.
Maybe my favorite place isn’t in the U.S. Maybe it is someplace else entirely; someplace I’ve lived or traveled to. A coffee shop in Florence, a restaurant in Paris? That sounds nice, but those memories are not as vivid as they used to be.
(Or maybe the drinking is finally impairing my long term memory. I’m not sure.)
I think that in order for a place to qualify as your favorite, it must be somewhere that you can return to time and again.
What is that place for me?
Two words: My Bathroom.
Some of you might be nodding your head right now and saying, yup, I like my bathroom too. I have my powder mirror, my claw foot tub, and my candles.
Um, no. I don’t know where you live, but that is not my reality. Think Oakland. The tile is cracked, the entire room, including the tile, are various shades of 1960s pink and my shower is 2 feet wide.
Even though my favorite place is imperfect, my love for my bathroom remains true for two reasons:
1) There is a lock on the door.
And, 2) If I turn the water up high enough, I can drown out all sound in my house. In other words, I can’t hear fighting, screaming, and the asking of questions regarding mail, meals, and/or holiday plans.
The bathroom really is my special place.
I can even catch a quick nap in the shower from time to time. I suppose that is a benefit to bathing in something the size of the closet.
Plus, it helps me to think of myself as super talented.
I assume you eat dinner in there?
Kristina P.´s last blog ..Consumerism: The Real Meaning of the Season
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Today a took a bath and my daughter came in and asked “what ARE you doing?”. I think I need to spend some more time there.
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As you know, my favorite room is the damp, dark basement storage room. It’s the only place that’s off-limits to my children. Hence, it’s my utopia.
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I don’t even get privacy in there. I have to leave my house to get any. My kids no how to pick locks. LOL
He & Me + 3´s last blog ..A Night At Home…
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I know of this special place of which you speak. It is wonderful and a favorite place of mine too.
Jen @ buried with children´s last blog ..(Un)Kindness of Strangers
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I used to sneak candy in the bathroom so I wouldn’t have to share it with my kids. Then when my daughter got older she called it her office, we had some great conversations there. Good times in the bathroom!
megryansmom´s last blog ..Crafting With TOF
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LOL, ah yes…thank good ness for the sanctuary of the bathroom!
Muthering Heights´s last blog ..In Stillness
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It always seems like my kids need me the most once I walk in the bathroom!! What is the deal with that?
Alicia´s last blog ..FRIDAY PHOTO FLASHBACK
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I love it! Anyplace where you can get peace and quiet is a favorite of mine too. Although, a little cafe in Florence sounds better.
Jen´s last blog ..Another Year, Another Christmas Card
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I LOVE my bathroom too….as long as it’s at the Four Seasons as part of my VIP suite package.
KK´s last blog ..The anti-starvation diet
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Now that’s just pathetic. Simply sad, Chessie!
Justine
)
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I get all my favorite ideas in the shower. Then I scream for my kids “bring a pen and paper QUICK!!”
The press their poor little (locked out) faces up against the door
“What??”
“CERVIX!! SHE WAS PRACTICALLY WAXING MY CERVIX!”
Silence…
“did you get that?”
“Yes mom…choke..sputter…”
“Awesome, thanks! Just leave it next to the computer”
Jennifer June´s last blog ..The landing strip
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Ooh—I like that prompt. It would be hard to pick a favorite place…but your reasonings behind the bathroom are impressive. I like mine and I don’t have a husband or kids to hide from yet:)
Barbara´s last blog ..My Gift to You
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All I can say is ditto, ditto and ditto. For the very same reasons!
Helene´s last blog ..Decking the halls….
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Uh-huh!
Unknown Mami´s last blog ..Fragmented Fridays
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Great answer! What mom couldn’t identify with that? I can remember lots of times I locked myself in my bathroom. Plus, that’s where I hide the Doritos!
debbie´s last blog ..Southern Criminals
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You know, I never thought of my bathroom in that way. Mine too has ugly cracked tile and sorely outdated fixtures, but at least it too has a lock!
Kathleen´s last blog ..A Christmas Wedding
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I probably wouldn’t have thought about it if I hadn’t read this, but I think my bathroom may be one of my favorite spots on earth. More specifically, my bathtub. I love love baths, and the tub is definitely one of the most relaxing, comfortable, happy places in my life.
Carissajaded´s last blog ..EEEEEEFML Friday. Watch out for crazy snail lady.
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that’s the perfect answer, I have to admit that taking a shower is one of my destressors, just the fact of knowing that I won’t get bothered is good enough for me:)
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Saw that you just started following me on Twitter so I decided to check you out and what do you know… you’re in the SF Bay Area. i was born in SF, grew up down on the Peninsula (San Carlos) and was a part of the SF scene in the early 60s and 70s. And what a scene it was. Here’s a link to a post I wrote on that area in that time. I think you’ll get a kick out of it.
http://injaynesworld.blogspot.com/2009/11/injaynesworld-i-give-you-ode-to-my.html
Look forward to reading you more in the future.
Jayne
injaynesworld´s last blog ..injaynesworld it’s time for the "Sunday Recap…"
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I’ll be flying into oakland on xmas morning. I’m sure you’ll feel my presence. I’ll be thinking of u!
kristin kaminski´s last blog ..WHY God? WHY?????
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ooooh this was a great answer… b/c i looove my bathroom, lol!!!!
Randi´s last blog ..A baby’s Horse
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Awhh the bathroom. I do love me a bath now and then I just have to make sure I close the door otherwise I’ve got the dog in my face and lapping up my bath water.
Just curious, do you prepare meals in the shower? You know, like Cramer did? Just wondering in case by chance you serve me a salad some day, I’ll know not to eat it.
Pooba´s last blog ..Nipples, The Perfect Conversation Starter
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