My Most Embarrassing Moment Ever!

Up ’til now, my “most embarrassing moments” have been pretty minor, pretty tame.

The top two that I could think of (if put on the spot) were #1) having a guy who had a crush on me get down on his knees in the bus parking lot (in front of EVERYONE!), grab my hands, and beg me to attend a school dance with him; and #2) getting 3/4 of the way through my grocery shopping at Kroger only to realize I had left my wallet at home (I was 7 months pregnant with my first baby at the time, and my brain cells were disappearing at an alarming rate!).

Well, today I had an embarrassing moment that takes the cake. Thankfully, it could have been sooooo much worse……

Brian and I were at Wal-mart with our two youngest boys. We were in the back of the store, and they went to look at computer games while I headed to the restroom.

The men’s room was roped off for cleaning, but I was relieved to see that the women’s restroom was still available (otherwise I would have had to go all the way to the one at the front of the store).

Well, I walked into the ladies’ room and saw a man in there, washing his hands at the sink. He gave me a funny little smile, and in the two or three seconds it took for me to walk past him into the stall, the thought ran through my head that he was probably a wee bit embarrassed to be caught using the women’s restroom. But I certainly didn’t blame him: what if he really really had to go and wasn’t sure he could make it to the men’s room at the front of the store in time?

Without really thinking about it, I did notice that there were only two stalls. Hm. That’s odd. But I shut myself into one and went about my business.

You know where this is going.

As I was sitting there, I suddenly had the feeling that maybe this was not the women’s restroom after all. I hurried up. And as I swiftly strolled out of the (thankfully empty!) restroom, I noticed the urinals along the wall.

!!!!!!!!!!

Can you just IMAGINE???? You see how I mean it could have been so much worse!

I don’t think anyone saw me coming out of there (though perhaps some security camera recorded it), but I was horrified!

I went back to Brian and the boys, and then Charlie said he had to use the potty. Brian asked me to take him, and I thought, “Oh, please don’t make me go back there!”

But back I went (to the “family” restroom this time). And on the way, we passed the same man who’d been washing his hands in the men’s room when I’d waltzed in just minutes before!

I wanted to say, “Oh, sir, I am SO SORRY! I had NO IDEA!” But I was so completely mortified, I simply could not speak at all.

He just looked at me as he strode past.

Wearing his Wal-mart Employee nametag.

* * * *

I kept an eye out for him as we shopped for groceries. I’d regained my composure enough to be able to speak if I saw him again. But I didn’t.

I feel so bad. You have to understand, I am a very conscientious person. I am a rule-follower. My rebellious streak is next to non-existent. To think of this man—who, when I consider how he was dressed, is probably a store manager—telling all his associates about this brash, disrespectful woman who sashayed into the men’s room without a care or a by-your-leave…..well, yes, I’m a people pleaser by nature, and that really bothers me.

(Question: Why didn’t he SAY SOMETHING?? “Um, excuse me, ma’am; this is the men’s room?” Or maybe he was too stunned by my boldness in striding into the room to say a word.)

My thought is to send a note to the store manager (who, for all I know, might be him!) explaining what happened and asking the pardon of the poor fellow I happened upon in the restroom. After all, he may have been doing something other than washing his hands when I walked in.

What do you think? Am I making mountains out of molehills?

I’m so embarrassed about this, I didn’t even tell my husband!

(If you’d care to make me feel better, perhaps you could share your own “most embarrassing moment”!