I mentioned how I once had a writing job (advice column) on a newspaper. When they told me I needed a photo for the column, I was surprised and thrilled. 'Me in the paper? Me?? Wow!'
I must have spent two days figuring out what to wear. That was really daft since the picture was just my head, and you never saw what I was wearing anyway, but (typical woman) I needed to wear something that made me feel good. When it was done, I took my photo in to the newspaper offices. Feeling Very Important I handed it over with a flourish and told the guard it was needed for the next run.
Next day there I was, near the back, lower left page... ME smiling back at me.
Wow. What a rush! What a head swelling ego-smug moment. I wanted to roll in the paper like a cat in catnip. I wanted fireworks and champagne. Reality set in somewhere between having breakfast and going to the local supermarket. Yes, my photo was in the paper… now everyone would see me. It was a small newspaper in a small town, which means any gossip moves at light speed. It would take a very short time for the entire town to know who I was. Everyone would know ME, everywhere I went, all the time.
I grabbed a trolley and made a dash for the entrance, thinking furiously…
'Try to keep cool. Breath in. Breath out.
They aren't staring at you. No-one is staring.
Oh my GOD, they are STARING at me! I am VISIBLE!
I am this new huge neon-glowing ME and it feels horrible!
I want to be small, invisible ordinary me just browsing the shops. Not this person with the LOOK AT ME arrow above her head.'
At the supermarket entrance there was a turnstile with a hole in the railings next to it where you pushed your trolley through into the shop.
'Quick, quick! Get in there, get the food and get out.
Be cool. Be calm. Don't look stupid. People are watching…
DAMN. There's a fat lady wedged in the turnstile, moving slower than a sea turtle.
Ok, don't panic. You can get through this. You are cool. You are in control.
Push the trolley through the gap, duck down and follow the trolley.
Simple! You are short, the trolley gap bar isn't too low.
You can do this…'
and EVERYONE stared.
its funny on paper but i don't think it could be told as a funny joke to much detail. :)
ReplyDeleteYes, its funny. And of course it would be a great anecdote.
ReplyDeleteHope that didn't hurt too bad... it's weird I used to do some stuff for TV but if my friends ever wanted to watch with me I would scream and die of embarrassment and leave the room if they didn't change the channel -
ReplyDeletehuman nature never ceases to amaze me we run after the same thing we run away from
Public emberassment is just no fun! The good news is that you weren't caught picking your nose
ReplyDelete: )
OMG! Yeah, I think I'd share your panic. I'm the sort of person who'd cross the street to avoid being on TV, and I'm not even a known criminal!
ReplyDeleteHi Random Magus
ReplyDeleteYes, the bar did hurt, but feeling a total idiot hurt more. LOL
Hi Dustinzgirl
Oh I'm pretty good at public embarassment. :-D Like Murphy's law there is Crow's law - If there is any chance I'll get caught out doing something stupid.. I will be. :-P
Hi Ron
Yep, me too. We had our wedding taped for family who couldn't be there. I've watched it once. Total trauma.
//..and EVERYONE stared. //
ReplyDeleteLOL.
(I don't comment much these days. I read all your posts).
hi prema
ReplyDeletejust sending you a smile. :)
too funny/classic.
ReplyDeleteBut next time I hope your 'wake-up call from the universe' is more gentle.
Hayden
ReplyDeleteIsn't is funny how the worst moments make the best stories later? ;-)