Fun Friday – Blessed Are the Candy Givers

 

There I was, sitting peacefully at church, when an innocent offer of candy sent my taste buds on a journey they did not consent to take. It was my fault. I asked my friend for a piece of candy. My throat felt like the Sahara Desert - dusty and dry.

It was one of those days where I probably should have spent a little more time building a relationship with rest. My energy was like the gas tank of my car, leaning toward low. My breakfast consisted of a homemade smoothie and a handful of lightly salted peanuts (my snack of choice).

I often travel with snacks – gum, nuts, fruit snacks, but that day I was running late for church service. After arriving at church, I hydrated with a cup of juice from the snack table in our fellowship hall. I didn’t want to drink too much for fear of having to create my own intermission during service and dip out to the restroom.

The juice soothed my tonsils and other parts of my throat’s anatomy…until mid-way through service. The dryness found its way home; my throat felt like it had been lined with dryer sheets. Now we’re at the heart of this story…

My friend who is also a snack carrier was wearing a large brimmed fancy hat.  I had to tilt my head and duck under her hat to whisper my request for a piece of candy. She rummaged through her purse and handed me a small nylon bag with a drawstring. Inside was an assortment of hard peppermint candy, soft peppermints and cough drops.

I opted for the cough drop…and thus began the topsy-turvy encounter with my taste buds. I expected a menthol taste that would open my nasal passages. What I received was something closer to an encounter with the laundry aisle at Walmart. That little piece of Fellowship tasted like Febreze, original scent.

Yes, I’ve tasted Febreze. It was after I sprayed one squirt too much into the air. The mist landed on my lips. The original scent is my favorite…to smell, not to taste. I ate the cough drop I had chosen as though it was my last meal. Who was I to be picky? I selected my tastebud fate.

Blessed are the candy givers, for they shall inherit… my immediate suspicion about what exactly I just put in my mouth.

The moral of the story – we always have choices. Sometimes we make the right choice, but when we don’t, we can find humor in the situation.

What is one situation you found humorous this week?

Monday Musings – The Day I Almost Became Part of the Exhibit

 

Life is too short to be embarrassed; This is what I told myself the day I almost became part of an exhibit. As a result of this episode I stumbled upon my new mantra – I may be aging, but I’m still rocking the boat.

You’re probably familiar with the saying, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” Well, take good look at the photo included with this blog post; it has a story to tell.

It was an atypical workday, the rare occasion where I escort a group on a trip. We enjoyed a tasty dinner that was pleasing to the palate. As we waited for the entertainment to begin…I became the entertainment. It was comical, but I was not performing comedy.

A large group of us stepped outside of the venue to absorb serene atmosphere- a sandy  ocean front, the sun setting, and a relaxing fire pit. I would be remiss if I did not mention the replica sailboat that sat on slats near the sandy area. It was a perfect spot for photos.

I watched as several people posed standing in front of the sailboat or sitting on its edge. Then it was my turn, I excitedly plopped on the front edge of the boat. It rocked, swayed…almost capsized.

I hoped up, took a bow, and asked those who took pictures before me, “why didn’t you warn me?” That replica sailboat couldn’t handle my hips. There should have been a warning sign, a weight limit, something to deter me from mounting that boat.

One of my travelers was doubled over with laughter. When she caught her breath and regained her composure, she began singing, “Rock the boat, don’t rock the boat baby. Rock the boat don’t tip the boat over.”

I joined the clamor, raised my arms as though I had just received a score of 10 on a balance beam dismount. In that moment, I realized you’re never too old to make a spectacle of yourself.

Below are 5 ways you can survive embarrassment by finding the funny.

1.      Give yourself permission to laugh.

2.      Change the question from “Why me?” to “Why is this funny?”

3.      Use humor as a reset. A good laugh can change the emotional temperature of the entire situation.

4.      Ask, “Will this matter 5 years from now?” If not, you might as well enjoy telling your story.

5.      Celebrate your ability to recover. Sometimes the funniest part isn’t what happened but how you handled it.

I’m learning to grow older without growing too serious. How do you handle an embarrassing situation?

Fun Friday – When Nature Calls and Won’t Let You Leave

 

I just needed a bathroom break, not a survival story. My episode happened at a service plaza on a turnpike. I was traveling with 50 other passengers on a charter bus…and I was the group leader. This was one time I wished we had played that childhood game – Follow the Leader. Maybe then I would have had a rescue team.

I let my troops (group) off the bus and watched them disperse into the restrooms and eateries inside the plaza. I rushed toward the women’s restroom with a heard of other travelers seeking relief. Inside the restroom we were all peeking into the slightly open stall doors. The last thing I wanted to do was to walk in on someone in a Tai Chi squat position.

Once in a clean stall, I slid the metal lock into its space on the door, then made my bladder happy. Nature called and I answered.

Ready to make my exit from the stall, I attempted to slide the metal device to open the door. It didn’t budge. I tried again, and again with no luck. I began to snatch  the door from the bottom, toward me. The lock still did not free itself. I planned scenarios in my head – I could crawl underneath the stall door.

I abandoned those ideas as I remembered seeing one of our travelers at the sink when I entered the stall. I called out in a wee voice, “Wanda…Wanda.” The only response I heard was running water, and hand dryers blaring. I grabbed my phone from my purse and attempted to call Wanda.

Once I unlocked my phone, a message scrolled across the top, Wi-Fi unavailable, emergency calls only. I refused to call 9-1-1. Instead, I said, “Lord, you parted the Red Sea, and turned water to wine; could you open this stall door? I’m sure this will be funny later, but right now I’d like a cup of coffee.”

I tried the lock one more time, and it opened. I said, “Thank you,” and off I went to gather my troops to reboard the bus. The next time nature calls when you are traveling, take a buddy.

Below are a few fun tips to get you through a situation like the one I experienced.

1. Stay calm. Panic burns calories, but not enough to justify the stress.
2. Accept your new address. "Currently residing in Stall #3. Mail can be slipped under the door."

3.                Start planning your autobiography. From Freedom to Flush: My Journey Behind the Locked        Door.

4.            Wave proudly at the person looking through the gap under the door. Awkward for them, entertaining for you.

5.                Keep your sense of humor. It's lighter to carry than embarrassment.

Have you ever found yourself in an awkward situation where you were able to later turn it into humor? Spill the beans, what happened?