Sanctuary

A sanctuary, as described so eloquently by dictionary.com, is immunity afforded by refuge in such a place. Where do you find sanctuary? I have found bathrooms to be some of the best sanctuaries. As strange as it sounds, and even to me it seems strange; I have always been fond of the safety and solitude of being in the bathroom. And its funny because we do spend extended periods of time in bathrooms so we get to know them well and I have discovered I know so many details of the showers, the stalls, the mirrors, and the sinks I have encountered. I have some favorites:

1. my home bathroom. The one on the first floor. The one everyone in my family would race toward and fight over after every Sunday lunch. The one which my brother and I used to pick the lock with a butter knife when we were kids when mom was in there too long...just to make her mad. I know the black and white tile that lines the walls and the cracked mirror that disguises the medicine cabinet and I know that the lights flicker 2 times before beaming a continuous light. I came to this particular sanctuary when I was yelled at or in distress about something. it was a good place to take a bath...in our retro green bathtub. Sylvia Plath wrote "There must be quite a few things a hot bath wont cure, but I don't know many of them. Whenever I'm sad I'm going to die, or so nervous I can't sleep, or in love with somebody I won't be seeing for a week, I slump down just so far and then I say 'I'll go take a hot bath.'"

2. the bathroom in the Rankin Science building (ASU). I know this one seems random, but I have taken shelter in this bathroom before and after some of the most traumatic tests I have ever taken. Not just that, but the cold tap water has been a great friend of mine on early 8 o'clock mornings when I needed to wake up. This bathroom is one of those gross bathrooms with green mildewy concrete walls and stalls made out of something resembling painted plywood. Its ugly and subtle and that's why I like it. I feel safe there. safe from the grips of grades and haunting questions about photosynthesis and the lymphatic system.

3. the bathroom in this bagel shop in Harrisonburg-Mr.J's. People who have been to this place can only wonder how I could turn this bathroom into a sanctuary, but hear me out. I used to have Bible study on Tuesday mornings and then afterward I would go to sit in the bagel shop, get some breakfast and think and write. I liked this bathroom because it was secluded, only one stall, and I was usually so tired when I went to Mr.J's that I would go straight to the bathroom sit down and flop over like a cloth doll and just stay like that until I felt like I could move again. bathrooms are safe places for resting in public places.

4. the bathroom on my dorm hall. Why? because its clean and pink and sturdy and all tile. This bathroom is consistent (as are most bathrooms) and it is always there when I wake up to shower and when I get ready to go to bed and I need to brush my teeth. I suppose I find real sanctuary in the shower. In college there aren't many places where you can be alone, but the shower IS one of those few places. and I can pray or dance or sing softly (not that I do these things when no one is looking, but hypothetically). I'm safe there in that shower. that sanctuary of sorts.

Thats all for now. moral of the post: sanctuaries aren't only in churches. Though they are nice too.