Welcome to Norristown, Pennsylvania! This provocative piece is one of many art exhibitions that may greet you as you traverse the city.
I encountered it outside the ladies room in the Norristown Greyhound Station. I naturally photographed and posted it on Facebook, because no one would believe me if I just told them what it read. Heck, I wouldn’t even believe me! One friend commented ‘Darn! Where are we supposed to do those things now? And how is this supposed to stop people from…forget it.’
You may jest, but she has a point. The design of the building doesn’t exactly make this sign much of a deterrent. These infamous toilets are in the back by the exit. Then, on the other side of a wall is the information desk facing away from the toilets. So all’s you have to do is designate someone as the lookout to drop off said ID and guard the door, then you and your team can easily trapse into the toilet and set up the meth lab or mini brothel as planned. Just ask your customers to use the back door, as there are no guards or cameras in the station. The attendants at the information desk are in a plexi-glass booth for their safety so they’re not likely to leave without an escort.
The station has about as much cheer as a dentist’s waiting room so let’s face it, no one would linger in such a place longer than they had to. I was, therefore, mentally hurrying along my best friend’s dad who was due to meet/rescue me lest the station gnomes abduct me and lead me into a life of sin and debauchery…at Pennsylvania minimum wage (the cheek)! He arrived about 10 minutes later, bless him!
Given he’s 81, that old bladder ain’t what it used to be so before we could head off, he said he needed the toilet. I didn’t have the heart to warn the man. Besides, I thought they would just give him the key anyway. He’s old. He walked over, tried the lock with no joy, read the sign, took his glasses off, cleaned them and read it again then headed off to the information desk where a girl of about 20-something instructed him to hand over his driving license. Yes, folks, they carded an 81-year old man. Fair enough; he could be a pimp for all they know!
