Aside from the well-learned lesson that good friendships are worth every bit of the effort, my recent trip to Madison has taught me that I should never take a good shower for granted. No, I didn't subject myself to a dearth of shower facilities--quite the opposite, in fact. I had some of the best showers of my life.

All my life, I've been the type of person who wouldn't hesitate to put off a shower. If I'm incapable of sensing grodiness while asleep, why not dispense with the shower beforehand? But truly understanding the inimitable refreshment of a good shower has led me to give the whole concept more thought. Thus, I present this brief treatise on what I believe constitutes a good shower, each of these elements being present in the 8 magnificent showers I had in Madison.

A good shower, though not totally independent of the quality of cleansing substances (i.e. shampoo, soap, body wash), can be completely ruined if the water is not right. The water should: a) be of the desired temperature; b) have sufficient water pressure; c) not be overly hard; d) make contact at the appropriate place. Granted, the desired temperature varies between individuals. A cooler shower might be considered more relaxing to some than others. If the water is too cold or too hot, the shower becomes uncomfortable. In addition, the water temperature must be easy to control. If there is a lot of fluctuation--even if around the desired mean temperature--the quality of shower is degraded by anxiety created by trying to anticipate periods of chilling or scalding water. Water pressure, the second element, is less easily controlled than water temperature but possibly more influential on the overall quality of shower. Weak water pressure leads to frustration in the inefficacy of soap removal, and perhaps even frustration regarding the resultant increase in length of shower time for some individuals. This problem can be exacerbated by hard water. Not only is the soap wasted when complexed with the minerals in the water, it also leaves a slimy layer on the skin that is hard to get rid of. Even after showering, the skin doesn't always feel clean and leads to additional (but futile) rinsing. The last element, control over where the water goes, can thwart a shower that is otherwise satisfactory. Few things are more irksome than being unable to rinse off a freshly soaped body part. For example, in many small showers, it's hard to directly rinse off calves and feet without being a contortionist. Another downfall of small showers is not being able to soap up and keep the water on without being immediately rinsed. But when all these counts are met, the product is an enlivening and soothing experience.

I've given myself yet another reason to visit Madison... and I can't wait!