I ran across the term “Vichy shower” the other day in a press release. It was touted as an amenity in a new condo property, which are being developed again in some markets, such as Miami-Dade. Vichy shower? I wondered. One that collaborates with the enemy? And what would the enemy of a shower be, anyway? BO? Dirt?

No, the Scotsdale Resort & Athletic Club web site says, “A Vichy shower includes five to seven shower heads that are placed in a row over a cushioned table. During the treatment, a client lies on a cushioned table while water showers the body. The origin of the shower came from Vichy, a town in central France known for its natural mineral springs, and for its puppet government… [I added that, of course.] Instead of jumping into a shower to rinse off after their treatment, the guest can simply lay and relax while enjoying the therapeutic benefits of the water raining down on them.”

Vichy’s city fathers are probably irritated by the lingering collaborationist association. After all, it was 70 years ago, and the city probably didn’t ask for the distinction anyway. Maybe the French don’t care anymore, but somehow I doubt that. Certainly “Vichy France” would get blank reactions on this side of the Atlantic: So why did Capt. Renault kick that bottle of Vichy Water?

Got an idea for a Scandinavian version: The Quisling Shower.