True Believer

by Don
(Miami)

I cannot remember my first enema. I suspect it was when I was very young, over my mother's lap, with a bulb. My parents were always very health conscious and believed that one needed to have at least one bowel movement every day. At the first sign of illness, they always asked:

Did you move your bowels? If the answer was NO or if you hesitated in answering, an enema is in your near future. I recall my first one with a bag. I was 7 years old and had a very bad cold and sore throat. The doctor, who was also my uncle, came to the house. After examining me and giving me a shot of penicillin, he told my mother to give me a "good enema."

They discussed the forthcoming enema in my room and my uncle said "He can take a bag enema at his age." A short time after he left, mother appeared on my room, a towel over her arm and told me to remove my pajama pants and placed the towel on my bed.

She returned holding the amber bag that usually hung behind the bathroom door with the long hose coiled. I could smell Ivory soap. She explained that she was going to give me an enema and that it might be uncomfortable but it would make me feel much better. It was uncomfortable.

When I complained she told me that she and my father also dislike the cramps but enemas were part of life. They have been part of my life for 60 years. My wife also believes in enemas. We both take a weekly thorough series till clear. Both of us are in excellent health.