septic ovefflow(?) breaking all trust in plumbing; a true existential crisis (also a gross mess)
this is super gross and about poop, you have been warned
Over the weekend we had a massive septic tank and/or pipe clog that caused our toilet to reverse and overflow when our clothes washing machine drained its basin. This was, and please do not imagine it, disgusting and horrifying. We had been noticing issues draining all over the house, but it had never been quite bad enough to overcome the effort of organizing a visit from the plumber, but the morning of The Incident we were going, "wow it's so bad" to the point of needing to plunge the toilet. This meant I was Very Aware of the moment the water level in the toilet basin reached the height required to spill over and onto the floor. I immediately sprinted for the shopvac, flung its paper filter into the void, and got to work. it was gross
it was gross
it was gross
Of course, while I was doing this, Gooseberry was quite naturally breaking down: her trust in a fundamental aspect of our house was shattered, betrayed by every poop flushed suddenly returning with a wet vengeance. She was sobbing that we would have to move; Snap was sobbing cuz the shopvac was running and big sister was sobbing, and Em was on the phone looking for a plumber. It was Certainly an Event.
I'm very thankful my parents-in-law live directly next door; I do not know what we would have done without being able to walk over to use their toilet for the two days till someone was able to get over to snake all our drains to buy us time before the septic guys could come out to ensure the tank was also clear. This was an event that makes you immediately and deeply aware of the fundamental structures of life you take entirely for granted: of course you can just use the toilet whenever you need to and within moments of noticing your need.
We're all clear now