IF YOU GOTTA GO, START EARLY
My friend is a rather old-fashioned lady, always quite delicate and elegant, especially in her language. She and her husband were planning a week's vacation in Caroga; so she wrote to State Campsite at E. Caroga Lake 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". So, she started all over again and referred to the bathroom commode merely as the B.C. "Does the campground have its own B.C."? is what she actually wrote.
Well, the campsite ranger 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 had him stumped.
After worrying about it for awhile, he
showed the letter to several campers, but they couldn't imagine what the lady
meant either. So, he finally came to the conclusion that the lady must be
asking about the location of the Baptist Church. He sat down and wrote the
following reply:
Dear Madam:I regret the delay in answering your letter, but now take pleasure of informing you that a B.C. is located 9 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 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 6 years ago and it was so crowded we had to stand up the whole time we were there. It may interest you to know that right now there is a supper planned to raise money to buy more seats. They are 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 surely 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 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.
Sincerely,
Ranger _________