Know what Bugs Me? Dysfunctional Paper Towel Dispensers
Know what Bugs Me? Dysfunctional Paper Towel Dispensers
Going to a public bathroom is challenging, but trying to do it at 30,000 feet above ground in a space just right for a five year old demands extra skill and perseverance. And I guess expecting the staff to make the facility as pleasant as possible is ludicrous. On a flight a while back, as I reached for a paper towel to dry my hands, I noticed they were wedged in the dispenser so tightly none would come out. The edges were mangled like someone had set a wildcat on them.
I picked at the tattered fringes where others had clawed before, determined I’d be the one to get that first paper towel loose. As I worked, I thought of all the various forms of towels I’d used from childhood up. Remember the cloth ones? You’d pull both sides to bring down a clean area and the previously used portion would cycle back into the dispenser. I always suspected the roll of fabric never got changed because remember how thin and stained they looked. Eventually, public bathrooms got paper towels. The first ones cranked out as you turned the handle, followed by the familiar stainless steel dispenser with towels C-folded into it ready to be pulled out. Modern day facilities use electronically dispensed towels which is nice when they work.
In the airplane bathroom though, they had the old-fashioned stainless steel type, and my efforts produced nothing but bits of paper the size of a fingernail. An image came to mind, the maintenance person snickering as he wedged the towels in so tightly the dispenser would never be functional.
Assessing the situation, I wondered whether to simply wipe my hands on my pants or keep working. Just then I noticed a stack of wadded up tissues in the trash can. Aha! Better than nothing, I figured, as I grabbed several and patted my hands, trying to ignore the bits of paper disintegrating and sticking between my fingers. I threw the tissues away and rubbed my hands together, attempting to dislodge the bits, while looking at the perfectly full paper towel dispenser and wishing I could wrap my hands around the neck of the person who filled it so tightly.
As I exited, I said to the woman waiting, “Paper towel dispenser is out of order.” She looked at me quizzically and stepped inside. A few minutes later I heard a crashing sound coming from the bathroom. The woman stepped out, a smile on her face, and maneuvered around the curious flight attendants. Perhaps they suspected an explosive device had been detonated. I knew better. The woman carried a huge wad of paper towels in her hand and nodded to me as she passed. “Got it fixed,” she said.
Over my shoulder, two female attendants scurried to pick up a heap of paper towels that drifted into the walkway. I chuckled, looked at my fellow passenger, and gave her a thumbs up.
Written by Linda Sawyer
June 14, 2021
Do I embellish my What Bugs Me pieces?
You bet I do. Take them with a grain of salt.
