Ahem, so, there I was, leading a group of professionals to the second of four venues, in a leadership training course. I was speaking with a guy who is the Director of Food and Beverage of a five star resort in our area. We had been discussing the seemingly futile battle to stay out of a mini-van. This conversation about cars lead to talking about having accurate directions for the seesions we have in the months ahead.
“I’m sorry I was hounding you for those directions.” He had asked me in an email Saturday to send directions. I was trying to explain that I am bound by the information I get from our site hosts, and more specifically, when I get the information.
“You know,” I said with great earnestness, “I tried to move forward, several times, actually. I sent out directions to locations in advance of receiving the agenda.”
He was watching me and nodding.
“And don’t you know that every time I did they switched the site? So despite people requesting the information ahead of time, I have to wait.” We nodded and shrugged at each other in that way you do when the conversation kind of dead ends but you can neither physically leave the situation nor end the conversation gracefully.
Suddenly it felt very strange, ominously quiet for the busy street we were walking on. I turned around to check on the rest of the group. Fourteen people stood a block away, looking at me with a mixture of bewilderment and pity.
“Umm, isn’t this where we’re going?” One of them asked while hooking her finger to the left at the building beside her, the building I’d passed several minutes before.
“Yup, it sure is.” I said, incredulous and increasingly red in the face.
“So, where are you going?” They were all looking at me, I have not felt so awkward since being in the locker room in the seventh grade and having to pretend as if I’d already had my first period and knew what the hell to do with the tampon that was being handed to me.
“My house. I was walking ya’ll to my house, but by all means, let’s go into the museum.” The idea being that they’d chuckle.
There was some derisive laughter followed by haughty looks, so I kept going.
“Ironically I was explaining to Ted how I have on more than one occasion meesed up the directions to this class. I guess the moral here is, you shouldn’t follow me or my directions.”
So, tell me, was your day this mortifying? Yeah, I didn’t think so.
You’re welcome.
been browsing your blog – it's great š
hope you could visit mine –
http://libremangarap.blogspot.com
You are classic.
Oh Sweetie….I'm so horribly directionally dyslexic – and I daydream to make it worse. I have been known to come out of an airport bathroom, turn the wrong way and end up back at the gate I just came from instead of at baggage claim. I feel for you.
And obviously, those people have no sense of humor.
Was there a full moon or something? My day?
Realizing I had sent a $243,000 bank check to a bank UNSIGNED. Having to drive there, get it, bring it back to the office to be signed, and then take it BACK to the bank. And apologize to all parties. Profusely.
Ack.
Ya know, my thoughts when I read this was that this didn't have to be mortifying. I could have been funny and a bit embaressing if the other parties involved would have just laughed with you and commiserated or something instead of making you feel like you had grown a 3rd eye.
I don't know why it is so impossible for some people to show a little grace. Do they not realize we will all need it eventually.
I am very sorry this happened. It could have happened to anyone. I just wish the people you were with could have been a bit kinder.
Don'cha hate it when you try to make a little joke to ease out of an awkward moment and nobody really laughs, thereby amplifying the awkwardness?
I do it all the time, Amanda. You are among kindred spirits.
oof.
but you handled it is stride. . .
I took a wrong turn down a "Y" in the sidewalk during the Walk for Diabetes last week. I had to turn around and face all the people who saw me wander off in the wrong direction. I'm right there with you, direction-wise.
Oops. Not even a good giggle out of the group? Bunch of duds. I would have laughed with you!
Hahaha! Ohhh…. Today wasn't like that, but ohyes, I have had days like that aplenty.
Too funny because I can SO relate. When someone asks me for directions people at work laugh. Directionally challenged, that's me. But in your case – preoccupation seemed to be what was happening there – and who hasn't done something because they were thinking (or talking) about something else??
Sigh. Would be nice if some people didn't think they were above it all. š
Navigationally challenged? I have quite a few family members that share your disability. We always manage to laugh with them instead of at them. I'd say your group was a bunch of humorless drones.
Hope today is better.
why didn't they laugh? i mean…i would have had to chuckle…were they THAT uptight?
i'm sorry…that really sucks! i've had days like that. fortunately, even if i still have days like that, they boys are too young to know any different! š
No one ever asks me for directions to anything, so I'm not judging AT ALL. I think everyone has bad days like that sometimes!
If it makes you feel any better… I set off an alarm yesterday at my new office and the cops were called. Of course, I took off before I could get arrested (just kidding ~ I waited 15 minutes and then decided they weren't coming so went shopping instead!), but it was embarrassing none the less. š