Another Rural Issue
One important aspect of rural living involves finding a graceful means of eliminating bodily waste while living, working or recreating in the great outdoors where plumbed toilets are scarce. This can be a particularly vexing problem for women, particularly in the wide open spaces, particularly in the company of men.
Powder Flat Headquarters, Moffat County Colorado, with carpeted outhouse
Photo by Pat O'Toole
I was discussing this dilemma with one rancher friend, who often finds herself at the head of an all male cowboy crew. She is also the mother of sons, so lacks a daughter to help her scout for good spots to get away from it all. She told me, “I figure I’m the boss, so if need be, I just tell them to look away or ride over the hill.”
We had a laugh over Gwen Peterson’s wonderful poem, “A Tall Bush” (which I quote here without permission. You can read the whole thing in “Graining the Mare: The Poetry of Ranch Women,” published by Gibbs-Smith.) Gwen explains that a cowgirl needs three things: a good horse, a good dog, and a tall bush.
“But happiness is when she finds
A tall bush thick with leaf
To shelter her and block from view
The bliss of pure relief.”
We ourselves appreciated a good outhouse for a number of years. Before our children started school, we migrated with the sheep summer and winter. The accompanying photo shows the ranch headquarters where we spent eight winters. I carpeted the inside of the outhouse to make it more cozy.
The inspiration for this entry was a sign posted in the gas station of Baggs, Wyoming. Baggs is 25 miles to the east of our ranch headquarters, and is the largest town (2000 census, population 348) in our community. Baggs is at the cusp of the coming oil and gas boom, and has had a sudden influx of drillers, operators, rig hands, water truck drivers and the folks who service them. This sign indicates that the graceful elimination problem is not unique to cowgirls and ranchhands.
ATTENTION!!!
You are currently using the most popular toilet in Baggs, WY and for miles around. Please treat it kindly and do not flush anything down that may cause you to have to use the great outdoors for the duration of its repair.
Thank You,
Wilson’s
Staff
*****Please do not steal this sign…..if you think it is clever, and would like one…..the clerk has copies available at the desk.
