Although I’m a serious and intense Scorpio I have a great sense of humor, and through the years I have even learned to laugh at myself more and more as I become a typical old woman. In fact I sometimes wonder if I have any pride left. Nothing seems to embarrass me anymore.
In 2002 I was still in the
workplace. This particular day I had been at work an hour, when I suddenly
remembered I had a 9:15 a.m. appointment to get a flu shot. Frantic to get to to my appointment in time, I dashed down the hall to the elevator and
pressed the button. One of my co-workers who was already convinced that I was
in the beginning stages of dementia said, “Do you know you have on different
shoes?” I glanced down to see a taupe
shoe on my left foot and a black shoe on my right. The shoes felt the same but looked entirely different,
and the light in my bedroom was dim when I dressed for work. Refusing to give my nemesis the satisfaction
of seeing my embarrassment, I flashed her one of my biggest Southern smiles
and thanked her for noticing. I ducked into the elevator while calling back to
the receptionist as the doors closed, “I will be going home to change my shoe
before I return to the office!”
Chuckling to myself, I wondered how
many people would notice my odd shoes. I
made a game of watching for reactions. More
than a few people glanced down at my feet then pointedly avoided eye contact. I
couldn’t help smiling at them. I'm tall - almost 5'10", and people naturally glance down to see how high my heels are.
I entered the doctor’s waiting room
and there was no doubt that people noticed my feet. I sat down and pulled my book out of my bag
and started reading, all the time suppressing a giggle. I sneaked a glance now
and then at those who were definitely noticing my feet as they pretended not
to. I couldn’t conceal a grin as I spied
on them. I was tempted at one point to stand up, open my arms and announce,
“You can all relax! I know I have on odd
shoes, and I’m okay with that!”
When I was
ushered into an examination room and sat down, I stuck out my legs, wiggled my
feet, and asked the nurse, “Have you ever done this?” Puzzled, she stared at my shoes and dissolved in hearty
laughter, admitting that she had once done the same thing. Unfortunately she
had been young at the time, and she was devastated.
I got my
shot and left. On leaving the clinic I
pushed the handle on the automatic door and started through. I noticed a lady at the other set of doors waiting
patiently for hers to open. When she saw
my example, she touched the handle to activate the doors. She was obviously embarrassed and muttered
something uncomplimentary about herself as she walked through. When we were both outside, I commented, “At
least your shoes match.” At her confused
look, I pointed to my feet. She
immediately burst into laughter. We
walked along giggling like school girls, trading jokes on ourselves like two old friends. After we parted ways I silently wished that
we could all laugh at ourselves more often and that others would laugh with us
instead of at us.
Lynn Ross
December 20, 2002
