I have sacrificed for the sake of my husband's career- let me explain. Our previous house had a bath fit for a king (or smart mama rather) a giant corner tub, an oversize shower, sprawling counter space and very well doubled as a small ballroom where we could host guests. But our move to New England brought with it a colonial residence, which although ample, has postage stamp sized bathrooms. New Englanders must reserve traditionalism and austerity you know. (I will pause to note my current wading pool of bath would be consider excessively luxurious in most parts of the world- so I will cease my ingratitude). Anyway back to my glorification of the bath.
I take my baths extra hot, no bubbles. I also like a fluffy white mat, and robe, and always double hung shower curtains. No I don't need candles or rose petals or other such accouterments.
Truthfully, I would like to return the bath to it's place of proper glory. I mean the Romans were big fans of the bath, I know this because I did many Latin translations about outings to Marcus and Sextus at the baths in my Ecce Romani book in high school) and hey Turkish baths, now there is an exfoliating scrub down for you. Really baths have been the ugly step sister of the shower ever since jerry seinfield disparagingly described them as a "tepid pool of my own filth".
I propose the bath is therapeutic and inspiring. Why do so many people abandon this practice at the age of 4? The bath is one of my secret weapons of inspiration. If I am formulating a talk, a lecture a presentation, some writing, some paintings I go and sit in my bath. It's like the heat steams out all the extraneous thoughts - brewing with perfect clarity whatever I am thinking about. In fact I wish they'd make a waterproof laptop because man I could crank it out from there. I can get so lost in thought that I don't even notice the half a dozen architectural digest insert cards floating around me or fail to be bothered by the playmobil people my baby tossing in at me.
I think this might also explain why during pregnancy I lose my creative mojo as I am banned from excessive temperatures. (maybe I should also share this post with my son's bus driver, who I am sure wonders why I often have wet hair at 3:15)
So what is your place of inspiration...
That is an excellent question. And I agree with your assessment of the status of the bath. We ought to re-Romanize the place of the bath tub, and go big. I'm going to have to 'sit' on that question, because sitting for a minute or two in a place we don't like to talk about or visualize is as uninterrupted as my day gets. Clarity of thought on the throne, shall we say.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE baths, just wish my bathroom would get finished so that I could actually TAKE one. Place of inspiration? Hmmm...probably the car, when I drive to Dartmouth. Those are long hours of uninterrupted time. Thanks for asking. :)
ReplyDeleteI love baths too but never take one... it seems there is a never a clean tub or? I don't know why. I do a lot of thinking in the shower, though... one of the few times of day I am alone and the water is the only noise. My other places of inspiration - walking outside and swimming laps.
ReplyDeleteBTW on your previous post, I don't think you are a chuck-a-rama! I think it is great to do a lot of different things, and not worry if any of them are perfect, that is not the point!
Yes, the shower is my thinking place too (although a bath when I can get it is much better). But normally the shower, as hot as I can get it, so it leaves streaks of red where the water runs down my body. My problem now is that I colored my hair and it keeps fading quicker than lightning with the heat. Oh well, I'll take grey hair over luke-warm shower.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a bath girl, in any way. In fact, when we built our house, I purposely did not put a tub in our master bath.
ReplyDeleteI get my inspiration in the shower, or while I'm exercising.
First of all, I will take your house over mine anyday, bathrooms included!
ReplyDeleteSecondly, it's so great that you have a place of refuge. So important. I'm still looking for mine. I have to go with sweetpea though and Seinfeld, I'm not really a big bath goer, despite my LOVE for swimming:-) Baths kinda freak me out.
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ReplyDeleteIn our remodeled kids bathroom, which I hung your painting in, we installed a ginormous deep and wide tub. I love it. We also added extra insulation to the walls of the room. Peace and quiet. But if I get in the tub, I can't read or think or anything. I just marinate blissfully.
ReplyDeleteMy best ideas come in the shower.
place? hmmm....desperation? My biggest bursts of creativity come when they HAVE to. I'm a lazy creature that needs a deadline to get stuff done. Dang.
ReplyDeleteoh, how i love baths. upon completing a tour of my newly married sister's house-by-marriage, ending in her huge master bath i told her I should have married a better bathroom. I love the man i have, the bathroom, however, leaves much to be desired. all for love. sigh.
ReplyDeletenever too old for a bath....
ReplyDeletei think best in bed or in the car!
normally bed (not as noisy as the car)