If You Gotta Go, Start Early
This story is about a rather strange reply for a campground reservation. It is said to be
true, but you be the judge.
A woman who was rather old-fashioned, delicate, and elegant - especially in her
language - was planning a week's vacation in Florida, so she wrote to a particular
campground and asked for a reservation. She wanted to make sure the campground was
fully equipped, but didn't quite know how to ask about the toilet facilities.
She just couldn't bring herself to write the word 'TOILET' in her letter.
After much deliberation, she finally came up with the old-fashioned term 'BATHROOM
COMMODE.' But when she wrote that down, she still thought she was being too
forward.
So, she started all over again, rewrote the letter and referred to the bathroom commode merely as the B.C. 'Does the campground have it's own B.C.?' is what she actually wrote.
Well, the campground owner wasn't old-fashioned at all and when he got the letter,
he just couldn't figure out what the woman was talking about. That B.C. business really
stumped him. After worrying about it for a while, he showed the letter to several campers,
but they couldn't imagine what the lady meant either. So the campground owner, finally
coming to the conclusion that the lady must be asking about the location of the local Baptist Church, sat down and wrote the following reply:
'Dear Madam: I regret very much for the delay in answering your letter. I now take the
pleasure in informing you that a B.C. is located nine miles north of the campground
and is capable of seating 250 people at one time. I admit it is quite a distance away
if you are in the habit of going regularly, but no doubt you will be pleased to know that a
great number of people usually take their lunches along and make a day of it. They usually arrive early and stay late.'
'The last time my wife and I went was six years ago, and it was so crowded that we had
to stand up the whole time we were there. It may interest you to know that right now, there isa supper being planned to raise money to buy more seats. They're going to hold it in the
basement of the B.C.'
'I would like to say it pains me very much not to be able to go more regularly, but it is
sure no lack of desire on my part. As we grow older, it seems to be more of an effort,
particularly in cold weather.'
'If you do decide to come down to our campground, perhaps I could go with you the first
time you go, sit with you, and introduce you to all the other folks.'
'Remember, this is a friendly community.'
