A telling label

 

This lovely sign reveals more about its location than you might first suspect. 

The most obvious is the use of the name 'Joseph'. It is not a restroom only for people named Joseph. Instead, it is located in the lobby of a Lutheran church. The corresponding women's room is aptly named 'Mary'. The Lutherans clearly have a sense of humor. 

The second detail that I appreciate is the design of the sign. (I tell my Art Appreciation students that context adds so much more to one's understanding of an image.) I took this photo in the lobby of St Elizabeth Lutheran Church in Ekalaka, Montana, population 363. The church was the best location with the technology and size for the yearly Dino Dig event. What I specifically noticed was the sign's material - pierced black metal. Despite its isolation and size, Ekalaka featured a number of signs, and other outdoor art of the same material, and style. Together they signaled unity and pride in the identity of this small Western community. Simple, sturdy, designed to withstand the rigors of the environment, the pieces, including this one, make a statement about the people of Ekalaka. 

In the weekend we spent in this town in SE Montana, Robert and I were moved by the small town feel of community, openness and connection to both its past and future. The centerpiece of the community is the Carter County Museum, supported by a county mill levy and the passionate crew of young scientists and historians as well as the citizens themselves. The town has put resources into updating the schools (the only ones in this county of 1100) and rebuilding a grocery lost to a fire, not only mourning its shrinking population but determined to be clear-sighted and hopeful to its future. 

Beginning anew!

 I have missed updating this blog, and just writing, period. 

We have just returned from the first extended vacation (more than 3 days) in two years, and I have a lot of new material to share. The plan is to post twice a month, the second and fourth Sundays, so I hope you will check back to see what washrooms made me laugh, or intrigued me. 

Let's start with one of the most recent. This is the facility provided for our dinosaur dig outside of Ekalaka, Montana. It is a popup tent/toilet. No floor, obviously, and a bit short for the taller clientele.

Other features included a zip door, bucket with a seat, and a vent in the top - where said tall people could share their presence with everyone in the area. And supposedly, toilet paper.

About that last item. I did not use the facility, but I witnessed a cautionary tale. 

A woman in need, entered the toilet, zipped up and after a few seconds, unzipped to exit. "There's no toilet paper," she exclaimed. "I know there was some earlier, I saw someone toss a roll to a staff member," I noted. "I did too, but it's gone?" After exchanging a few remarks about how anyone could possible use a full roll in just about 3 hours, she found a substitute, and returned to toilet. A few seconds later, there was a yelp of pain. The early afternoon weather, with no shade mind you, had heated up immensely, and the seat was extremely hot. 

Later we discovered more about the mysterious TP disappearance. One digger discovered a T Rex tooth, and they needed to preserve it in plaster. The crew forgot to pack the plaster, and substituted wet toilet paper, an emergency papier mache instead. Without letting anyone else know. 

One more thing to include in your paleontological tool kit. Pickaxe- check, brush,-check, sunscreen-check, toilet paper-check.