The moment I read Gretchen’s Spin Cycle assignment for the week – Share Your Most Embarrassing Moment – I emailed her. I accused her of being evil. No. No way, I said. That’s not going down in writing. She responded with an evil giggle, proving her evilness, and replied (Here I paraphrase – it’s poetic license), “Oh, come on.”
I believe I mentioned this briefly at my old blog, but I have a real problem with embarrassment. Mortification. For me, it’s up there with…well you know how some people feel about public speaking? That horrible fear of being in front of a crowd/audience? I spoke easily in front of the entire General Assembly at Model United Nations at the age of sixteen, in the actual General Assembly Room at The Hague, but the idea of just one person knowing something about me that I find embarrassing? I shudder to think about what that might do to me. I would turn red and melt. Right down to the ground. Because the entire world might think I’m stupid.
And appearing stupid? That, my friends, is right up there with snakes and drowning and driving over large bridges spanning bodies of water.
I know, I have issues. That’s never been in question. I have more phobias than is normal. So sue me. Wait, no…don’t. My sister isn’t licensed to practice law in Washington. Please don’t sue me.
That was a very long-winded way of telling you all that I am not – now or ever – going to put my most embarrassing moment in writing. I will share another embarrassing moment with you, though. This is one that will have you, each and every one, shaking your heads.
When I was in high school, I went to a church picnic as a guest of one of my best friends. It’s a large church, full of very friendly people who I liked a great deal, and I’d been to a few gatherings, even participating in the Easter Cantata one year. The picnic was pot luck. Everyone was sharing food.
The problem? My friend and her family were Pepsi drinkers. I dislike Pepsi, always have. I love(d) Coke. For decades, Coke and I were like this. So, this being a potluck, I wandered over to another family and asked for a Coke. They said, “Oh, sure…but everyone’s supposed to provide their own drinks.”
I could have sunk through the grass. I was, yes, there’s no other word…I was mortified of my ignorance. So, mortified, in fact, that whenever this event came to mind for the next ten years, I was mortified all over again. I would blush and start to sing to push it out of my head.
(Does anyone else do that? When something embarrassing comes to mind, I’ll start to hum or sing something to get it out. You know who, it turns out, does the exact same thing? NICKY – my firstborn son. How can something like that be hereditary?)
Anyway, that is why I will never share my most embarrassing moment. If it took me ten years to get over the embarrassment of being ignorant of soda rules at a potluck, you can imagine how I would feel if I opened myself up to the internet on something that could be considered embarrassing to a normal person.
Most embarrassing moment.
Awwww. I bet you were very sweet when you asked for one. The adult in me is thinking that if I had been that adult I would have said OK and thought in my mind that you did not know the drinks weren’t exactly for sharing but hey, kudos to you for asking an adult for one. I would have thought that but never corrected you on the ways of the church pot luck. That could have been my kid–that is what an adult should think. You could “mother” the former child in you and say that is how a mother should have acted.
Michele R. blogged this: Two Honeymoons
I don’t blame you for not sharing your most embarrassing moment. No way I am!
But I want to say that those people at the church picnic were very rude! Honest to Pete! It’s like nobody was raised right. When someone asks you for a coke and you have a coke to give, the ONLY acceptable response is, “Well yes you may, here it is and enjoy.”
Terrible!
Becky blogged this: Friday Quickies
I would NEVER think you were stupid. And I completely understand what you mean about that. I can deal with people thinking I’m a big clumsy oaf, but stupid? No, won’t be sharing those things. And now, of course, I’m dying to hear your MOST embarrassing moment. Hehehehe. Sorry, that evil giggle is back.
You are linked!!
Gretchen blogged this: Spin Cycle: Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez
Aww, what a shame! We all have those moments (every last one of us) but it must be hard to be extra-sensitive to it. I wish I had your presence of mind when public-speaking! And, you’re right, isn’t it weird the little things that seem to be genetic in our families? I’ve noticed this many times, not just in our kids but in myself doing something exactly the way my mother would, even though it’s something I always disliked and swore I’d never do
If I make it to Relay up there and we are walking at 2am, I want to here the most embarrassing story. I promise not to tell, or even remember in the morning, lol.
I agree that the people at the picnic should have been much nicer. I also agree with Gretchen: I’m dying to hear about your most embarrassing moment! Great spin!
Patty blogged this: Saving face (Reprise)
I hate that stupid feeling. And I too feel the mortification of the moment when I recall those incidents later, that’s why I have effectively blocked most of them out of my mind.
VandyJ blogged this: WWTK–Love is in the Air
Please don’t feel stupid! Never! You were maintaining your loyalty to Coke! Just sings, I’d like to give the world a Coke…
Erica@PLRH blogged this: Spin Cycle: Flaming Red
I hear ya on the Pepsi. I would have been too shy in high school to ask for a Coke, but I secretly would have died drinking the Pepsi. Yuck. And now I hope if I were the grownup at the church potluck I’d say, “Absolutely! I’d hate to see you have to drink a Pepsi.”
I’ll have you know I am also working on a cop-out Spin Cycle. Only because my life has been filled with minor embarrassments, and nothing that makes a good story.
Sarah at 32Flavors blogged this: RTT: Loves