Automatic Sinks, Toilets, Dispensers and Doors

I remember as a young girl going on trips with my mom, and stopping to use the public restrooms. Do you remember the ritual of lining the toilet seat with paper until you could learn the hover method? Don't forget the frequently repeated phrases of, "Don't touch, DIRTY!" and "wash your Hands!" Then came the opportunity to pass the same things on to your own kids. Modern day technology has attempted to help us in this quest.

For example, we now have automatic flushing toilets. Nice, right? Not if you still practice the hover method. So then I relented and decided to use the new paper liners for the seat. That in and of itself proved to be a ritual for me. Being able to sit for that second allowed me to forget that the toilet flushes automatically. So for a while there when I would stand up I would startle and squeal because the toilet would flush.

Then, it's time to wash your hands. I'm not sure what causes the sensors to activate in the dispensers and sinks, but I'm sure I don't have it. Eventually, I'm able to tap out the code or move my hands in the right rhythm to obtain soap and water. One time I was with my family at a fast food restaurant and went to the restroom. When it came time to wash my hands I soaped up and then could NOT get the water to come on. I did all the tapping and waving I knew how to do. Finally I left the bathroom and went to get my daughter. She came in, gave me THE look, reached over and pushed the handle up and the water came on. I didn't know if I should laugh hysterically at myself of hide in embarrassment. It was quite awkward. Do you remember the first no touch way of drying our hands? The air dryer? Yeah, right, that just translated to me: jeans are faster and more efficient,so I always left the restroom with a slightly damp seat. Now they have the sensor ones. They never dispense to me unless I'm walking away from them!

Finally, the automatic door. Now when you think about it the automatic door has been around for a long time, much longer than the other automatic things. These I've never had a problem with--until THE door. This door was installed at work for security reasons. When it first went in I could still just use the handle. Then the next day it wouldn't open and there was a key pad off to the side. So I'm thinking I just didn't get the code, use my cell phone to call my dept and get in. As I'm waiting for someone to answer another employee walks by, the door opens and in he walks. "Hey, wait," I holler, "how did you do that?" If you could have seen the look.
"I know it's automatic, but I couldn't get it to open. Where is the sensor?" He politely showed me where the sensor was located.

On the third day I show up for work and come to THE door. No response. So the ritual begins, I walk right to left,forwards and backwards and I'm just beginning to dance when it opens. Now you may be wondering why I don't just use another door? Let's just say I'm a creature of habit and a little stubborn. Besides, if I went to another door who would be the morning security's entertainment?