Bob and I were in an Ocean State Job Lots store this morning, and after about a half hour I began seriously looking around for the restrooms. I was getting frustrated, because in their other store sort of near us, the restrooms are clearly marked and conveniently located.

Finally I had to ask an employee. To my shock and dismay, she said "I'll have to escort you upstairs." WHUH??? My heart just sank. But at this point, it was urgent, no time to leave the store and go elsewhere, so I went chugging across the back of the store, clumping along with my cane, trying to keep up with her.

When she opened the door and showed me that big old flight of stairs, like in a hospital or something, I just wanted to fall through a hole in the ground. By now it was climb the stairs or wet my pants, so up I dragged myself, with the young woman pausing every few steps to wait for me. By then there was another employee at the top waiting for me so she could descend. Ugh ugh ugh.

Then, already thoroughly mortified, I felt like I had to "hurry up" because I knew she was waiting to "escort" me back down.

By the time the ordeal was over, I was humiliated and in pain, so we paid for what we already had and left.

For the record, the young woman was very courteous and sweet. It wasn't her fault. If they had posted a sign on the door "no public restroom", I could have planned accordingly (or shopped elsewhere). I don't know if they're even required to HAVE a public restroom, but who ever heard of a department store that didn't?

What if I'd been in a wheelchair? What if I'd fallen? What if my brother was a lawyer? Grrrr.