Lady, what died in your bag?

On my waysmartSh from my annual physical, I decided to pop into my beloved b.good to grab something to go.

I got a side order of the roasted veggies (broccolini, kale. tomatoes and carrots) 'cuz I'm never close to the recommended amount.  Corn on the cob has been my go-to "veggie" lately.  Plus, I just left the doctor's office!

Without thinking about it, I put the paper bag in my purse and head out to catch the train.  When I get to South Station, I find all of Boston standing on the platform.  I'm rarely on the T during rush hour, so I'd forgotten how crazy busy it gets.

For the last 20 minutes I've been imagining what folks might be thinking:  "How can this somewhat put together lady be stinking up this train? She's got a smart phone, so I'm sure she can afford deodorant.  Damn!"

And they should be thankful I said no to the sprinkling of parmesan cheese the young lady at the restaurant offered me.

When nature calls

Minutes after leaving the house earlier today I felt like doing the pee pee dance.  I was on the bus and couldn't go back home, since I needed to make the train to make it to Braintree on time.  I then remembered that there's a bathroom at Ashmont station.

This is the same dance I do whenever I make the healthy decision to increase my water intake.  It's the same dance that plays a role in convincing me by day 3 to return to the state of dehydration I'm usually in; it's less problematic.

Before heading to the platform at Ashmont,  I asked the only employee of the MBTA if I could use the bathroom.  He told me he didn't have a key to the women's bathroom.  So I asked if I could use the men's.  He told me, "No, it's against the law."  I told him I've used the men's bathroom many times.  (Okay,  so I've done so about six times in my life. Usually at a gay club,  where sometimes it was hard to tell  there was a difference.  But never at this T station, something I didn't need to make clear to him.)

So in a snarky "It's not like I'm busy doing anything else,  I'm just being an ass" way, he said, "Just because you've done it doesn't mean it's right."

When I got to North Quincy,  I was in the middle of my recital.  I asked if there was a bathroom and one of two MBTA employees pointed it out.   Relief!!!

I snapped a picture of the sign outside the bathroom door.   The other MBTA employee asked if I had a problem.   I told him what had happened with his coworker at the other station.   He didn't have much to say except that sometimes "they're" rude.   I expressed my appreciation to him for his colleagues' willingness to give up their bathroom for the public use.  (Probably as a way to appease riders before raising fares!)

Made it to my destination on time, where I immediately used the bathroom upon arrival.

So now I'm wondering, is it illegal to use another gender's bathroom? Didn't find anything that answered the question online.

The other thoughts that crossed my mind:  would they have fined me if I'd peed on the train or bus?  Or would they have sent a message alerting riders about a delayed train because of a sick passenger?