Embarrass yourself once in front of a person and your ego will survive, embarrass yourself twice, even three times in front of that same person and your ego experiences a compound fracture. Here’s my tale:
Several months ago my company began renting out office space to a small company called Soy Basics. The company is made up of predominantly young males. Their office space resides in the back of the building right next to my area. When leaving our suites for lunch or bathroom breaks, we use the same narrow corridor to get to the common area. A couple of weeks ago while returning from lunch, I found myself in the narrow hallway with one of their young employees. I coolly acknowledged his presence with a “hello” and right as I did, I slipped on the freshly waxed linoleum tiles and clung to the wall to avoid a face-plant. I can’t recall exactly what I exclaimed, but I am certain it was something stupid like “whoa Nelly, pardon me.”
It wasn’t but the following day when I found myself in the same situation; same young man, same narrow hallway. This time I didn’t acknowledge him but rather looked straight down at the ground and urged my feet to behave. Right before we passed, my left heel swung out from under me, and I went straight down and landed on my right knee. Thankfully the young man didn’t acknowledge my blunder, he just kept on walking. I on the other hand squealed, partially from pain, partially from humiliation.
Now for the worst part . . . as I was coming in the main building this morning, I saw that the same young man was holding the elevator for me. My building has the world’s slowest elevator. By not making the elevator in the morning, it often results in being five minutes tardy to work. I was clearly overjoyed at his gesture and walked speedily towards the open doors. Before I made it, my jacket pocket got hooked on the handicap button and I was jerked back. Not realizing that I was stuck, I lunged forward and my pocket tore away. I was horrified, MORTIFIED, and though I don’t blush, I could feel my cheeks burning.
When I finally made it onto the elevator I announced to the young man that I promised not to “trip, slip, or rip” in front of him anymore. At that he turned to me looking puzzled. I could clearly see that he had no idea what I was talking about. I tried to prod his memory by mentioning the previous week’s hazardous hallway experience, to which he still came up blank. After talking for a few moments it was clear that he had absolutely no recollection of the string of embarrassments that I had endured right in front of him. He hadn’t even seen me get stuck on the handicap button because he was texting at the time. As we got off the elevator at our floor, he apologized for being so oblivious and then laughed and said, “But I am sure glad you’re not going to rip in front of me anymore.”
