My children aren't speaking to me tonight

[NorasMom]

Nah, it’s nothing like that. See, I have this incredibly bizarre linen closet that was built into an old stairwell going up. The steps are still there, but the top part has been boarded over. To reach the closet, you have to climb IN the bathtub. Then of course you have to step from the end of the tub onto the old landing to reach the stairs and added shelves.

I truly love this closet! In a small, old house with little storage space, this was a wonderful discovery when I bought the place. However, I think you can imagine the difficulty of getting into it with MS, or middle-agedness, or even just an ounce of common sense. Frequently-used items are carefully organized so that I can reach them while still in the tub. It’s those uncommon, desperation/emergency type things that go on the stairs and can’t be reached unless you crawl inside. And then you have to go up the steps that are piled with towels and toilet paper and random household goods that won’t fit anywhere else. Did I mention that I have MS and am prone to wobbly legs and blurred vision? I seem to have forgotten that for a bit.

I got halfway up the steps, found what I needed, and then couldn’t get back down. I was stuck there with one leg dangling in the air because I couldn’t figure out where to put it. With the added shelves and my considerable girth, there’s no space to turn around. I yelled for my son, who was in the next room. And then I yelled again. And then I started pounding on the wall with a wrench. I knew that the closet was heavily fortified by layers of plaster, horsehair, and who knows what all else, but until that moment I had no idea that it was built like a tomb. I had visions of being found there days from now (OK; probably around midnight when my son finally realized that the dog hadn’t moved from the bathroom doorway).

I eventually managed to turn my head far enough that Son finally heard me yelling. He came running in a panic, convinced that I’d hurt myself, and he wasn’t at all amused that I was standing there laughing at him arguing with the dog, who refused to get out of his way. I honestly have no idea how I got up those stairs in the first place, because he had to move several items just to help me get back down. I’m still laughing hysterically about it all several hours later, but Son may not forgive the near heart attack I gave him. 😇

[Xvettech]

oh my! Lol!

Glad you are ok!

[Kit10]

A closet you can only get to by standing in the bathtub ... ! 🛀 What other interesting features does your house have?

[NorasMom in reply to Kit10]

Let me see...If you're taller than 5'5", you have to duck when using any of the interior stairs. My closet is the size of a phone booth. Then there's the spare toilet under the open cellar steps. The pie-shaped room that's 6' wide at one end and 4' at the other. Honestly, if not for the fact that my bedroom and the kitchen are "normal", I'd think this was built as a playhouse for children! It is not for basketball players or the faint of heart.

[Sandydemop]

i'm sure it's perfect in other ways?

[NorasMom in reply to Sandydemop]

It's my dream house! I'd been looking for nearly a year, lost out on two others (which I'm happy about now), and fell in love the moment I saw it. I can deal with the bizarre quirks because the bulk of it is everything I was looking for. I'm not leaving here until they carry me out in a body bag. 😆

[Sandydemop in reply to NorasMom]

i'm happy you're happy. would you consider posting a picture?

[NorasMom in reply to Sandydemop]

Of the closet? Maybe. Of the whole house? Not until someone hires a hazmat team to clean it. 😆

[Sandydemop in reply to NorasMom]

personally i'd like to see the ladder in the bathtub but maybe the outside would do fine. My imagination is running wild trying to picture it.

[NorasMom in reply to Sandydemop]

I give up. I couldn't get the camera to zoom out enough to actually show much. Obviously, I didn't do anything to this area after I bought it. The decor is on the previous owners! But this landing is several inches above the end of the tub, and the turquoise towel is about chest level if I'm standing in the tub. Straight ahead are the deep shelves that come out nearly half the width of the steps and go up to the ceiling. You can just barely see the first step at the lower right. I think there are 10 of them going up to the right, and I was stuck on the 3rd one.

cluttered closet

[Sandydemop in reply to NorasMom]

impressive! and not at all what i pictured

[falalalala]

I'm glad he heard you!

I had a stool I use at my potter's wheel break in half.I landed on my back,stuck between my wheel & a car motor.

My husband was right outside next to the wall where I fell & he could not hear me yelling like a freak!

Now, I use a thick metal tool to beat on a metal support pole to get his attention if I need help........with anything but falling.

I have considered taking a phone and putting it in a fanny pack just in case but nah........I won't fall.😜😂😂😂

[hairbrain4 in reply to falalalala]

I've learned to carry my phone with me. When I have it... like magic nothing happens!😀

[falalalala in reply to hairbrain4]

😀😀😀

[Sandydemop in reply to hairbrain4]

that's a good enough reason to always have it with you. that's why i have the apple watch. it goes everywhere with me. especially in the shower.

[hairbrain4 in reply to Sandydemop]

That's a good idea!

[Sandydemop in reply to hairbrain4]

water resistant which makes me love it.

[goatgal]

Oh, my! What a wonderful tale! You and I (and numerous others, I'm sure) should compile a book of MS Mishaps...the places we get stuck!!!

[Sandydemop in reply to goatgal]

it would be very funny

[hairbrain4]

If possible you might try hanging a cow bell up there for emergencies!🤗

[NorasMom in reply to hairbrain4]

That is a brilliant idea! I should probably go with the cell phone idea, though. Son's only here temporarily. Well, we're heading into 3 years this time around, but I can't move again. They always find me. 🤣

[falalalala in reply to hairbrain4]

Definitely cowbell! I gotta have more cowbell!

youtube.com/watch?v=cVsQLlk...(Not working as expected?)

[hairbrain4 in reply to falalalala]

🤣🤣🤣

[mrsmike9]

What a great story! My first house was built in 1890 and was quirky but nothing like that! What an interesting build! Is there another way to get to the upstairs/attic since this one is blocked??

[NorasMom in reply to mrsmike9]

Oh, yes! I would love to find the original floor plans, though, because someone obviously made a lot of changes. The usable staircase is only the bathtub's length away. It angles back against itself after the first couple steps, and I call that area the shoebox. It's a landing that's no more than 3x6, but they put a ceiling on it that's not too far above my head. Once you duck through there and start up the rest of the steps, everything opens up and the roof peak's about 10' above. There are two usable (? lol) rooms upstairs built under the eaves, with the tallest walls ranging from 3'-4'. My daughter refuses to spend the night anymore because she hits her head every time she walks away from the center of a room.

[mrsmike9 in reply to NorasMom]

Wow. With all that room upstairs, it would be nice if it was more accessible.

[Mollyabigail]

Oh, wow! Interesting! I am glad you are ok.

[twooldcrows]

isn't odd how we get into places but then have this terrible forgetfulness of how to get back out ...love the story and yes it is scary to get into these funny great ideas that we come up with that we think we can do all by ourselves ...hahahha...what we could do before with no problems........so happy he finally heard you would be very uncomfortable issue ....don't mean to laugh so hard but i have been there myself and i bet there are several in our group that has been there also....ahhahahahha....great laughs ...hope you aren't sore from sitting in that position for so long ....take care and i guess we do need to ask for that help more often ...be safe and filled with all of that love of your family....