MY MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENT

Saturday, 09 July 2011 17:06

The coming and going of this years Summer Solstice caused me to pause and ponder on an event of the past, one of those moments forever burned into your memory.

The Bearded One and I went to Seattle's Fremont Summer Solstice Parade several years ago. What a blow out affair that was. The abundance of floats, performers, and attendees was truly overwhelming. All of the pageantry, both in the parade and on the sidelines, is what has made this parade world famous. The sight of—there must have been a hundred or more—painted, decorated and nude persons streaming by on bicycles was enough to… well you just had to be there, hearing the “Ooh’s and Ahhs”.

Now, on to my moment… We had ridden the bus from Greenwood to Fremont. The bus stop is some little way up the hill from the heart of the activity.

After much viewing enjoyment, food and beverage, we started back up the hill to our bus stop. Just as we were getting close to our destination, I began to have a moment of personal panic.

As I was scanning the buildings along the sidewalk, in search of a restaurant, I spied a brick building with a storefront type window. Passing the window, I see there are small groups of people sitting around various small tables, others on couches and easy chairs; beverages and snacks available at various stations through out the room. This is the exact ambience one sees in a neighborhood coffeehouse, happy, friendly, cozy and full of people.

I was so relieved to find such a place as this, for now my moment of need was fast approaching the extreme panic stage. As I entered through the open front door, I spotted a slightly open bathroom door in the far corner, meaning the bathroom was not occupied. I nodded to people as I race in, trying to be as inconspicuous as possible.

Business done, I headed back the way I had come. As I reenter the room, everyone stood up, and wearing big smiles, began to clap, politely. Thinking, maybe I should have bought something on the way in, I got into my purse and left a dollar on the table full of snacks.

Upon exiting to the continuing round of applause, I found the Bearded One talking to a couple on the sidewalk, cups in hand, obviously customers of the establishment. That’s when I was informed this was not a neighborhood coffee shop but the apartment of the gentleman talking to the Bearded One. He was just hosting a group of friends celebrating the summer solstice. The Bearded One is still chuckling about this.

Perhaps, the bathrobe hanging on a wall hook in the bathroom should have given me a clue. To the nice Gentleman, please accept my public apology for my great faux pax and my sincere thanks to you and your friends for being so gracious to a lady in distress.

Apologetically Yours,
Belva