" I believe I shall never be old enough to speak without embarrassment when I have nothing to talk about." ~ Abraham Lincoln

Hello there and welcome to another visit from the ole blogger ranch, this one comes to you live and in person on this Tuesday, June 24, 2025.  I will attempt to be brief this morning because I have things to do and people to see. That's how they used to say it when they wanted you to think they were busy and had important things to accomplish. Sometimes it got shortened to this little ditty, I need to go see a man about a dog. Please don't ask where that came from but it more or less, perhaps less, meant the same as the other. I do have things to do today. My list. I don't actually have a list but I do know there are times when I am supposed to show up at a certain place at a certain time. At any rate, I was thinking about being embarrassed. What's your most embarrassing moment? Don't tell me you can't remember it because those are typically pressed into the very heart and soul. I will give you a few of mine. I was new to employment at a place in the mid 1960's. I didn't arrive from the country overnight, but, I certainly had not been around the block very much. I told the lady serving in the cafeteria that she had a smudge on her forehead. She said, "It's my religion." The other folks looked at me like I had landed from different planet. Another time I was at an important meeting with some self important people and it was important that I put my best foot forward. I was super nervous because I might have to speak. I got up and went to the back of the room to get a spot of coffee, as they say across the pond, and, it was one of those where you inserted the plastic cup into the holder, well, I was nervous but I got it all right except for the plastic cup and I poured the coffee into the holder and it splattered everywhere. I've spoken to people several times that I thought were speaking to me only to find out it was someone behind me. Yikes, short people, again, You know the song by Randy Newman. Short people have no reason to live. I did fall out of my chair at work one day and the falling was not nearly as bad as the trying to get up before I got down. That will do you in. Trust me. Okay. There are many more but those are some I recollected on my way to getting my assignments completed today. 

 

I can laugh now. Right? I'm not sure the statute of limitations has expired yet on some of my stupid human tricks, but, you are correct, they can make amusing anecdotes to some extent. The other interesting thing is to be around those who can't see their own embarrassing moments that bring such joy to others. In some ways it is good they can't see themselves like they really are, but, sad too, since they are missing out on the opportunity to laugh out loud. Believe me, I hope we all have learned to be able to recognize when we are the joke itself. It may not be funny to us at the very moment it happens but for me, well, often I see myself as a non-stop blooper reel. I remember one fellow I ran into who was given the job of helping instruct others in public speaking. While I appreciated his input, may I just put it like this: He was beyond awful when he was doing it himself. We thought that was humorous, but, then again, he didn't recognize it or even consider it to be so. Oh well. I hope you don't know something even more embarrassing about me, but, I would not doubt there are those who do. Continue to enjoy those recollections on your own and allow me a modicum of peace and quiet. I know, most of today's stuff doesn't make a lot of sense, but, as they say, it is what it is. One thing is clear and certain: God is still in control, on His throne, and He has the final say on everything. He does. That's a good thing. It is! Amen.