When Gary Wants to Talk

Gary must have separation anxiety, because he can’t abide a closed door.

We’ve worked out our issues with the closed door during work hours, with a few exceptions. The big issue now is the closed bathroom door.

Growing up, my family never talked through the closed bathroom door. After I was married I gradually adjusted to having chats with Gary if I was in the bathroom, waiting. You know, waiting, as opposed to doing. Not talking if I’m doing.

However, Gary’s now started to talk to me through the door while I am busy in the bathroom. He seems to want to talk when I am in the bathroom and I can’t hear, which happens when:

1. I am brushing my teeth
2. I am urinating

Gary uses the electric toothbrush too, so it will be easy to break him of habit 1. I just have to wait for him to starts brushing his teeth and start up a conversation. He’s very good at seeing another point of view when you force him into it.

However, habit 2 will be harder. He is a man, so his ears are over a yard from the deafening noise of the pee hitting the water, whereas I am right on top of it. The new Toto toilet is bigger, so there’s more of an echo chamber, and really it’s deafening.

All I could do is have him sit and pee while I talk to him outside the closed door. That is not happening. I suppose I can just start ignoring him if I can’t hear him.