Do you ever have this happen to you? You’re the centre of attention for some reason and that’s when the dork gods decide to put their hex on you and make you do something embarrassing?
You leave a family gathering and with a dozen people waving goodbye you run over the curb. Or maybe you’re riding a bicycle past a bunch of onlookers and you run onto the grass.
Yesterday I decided to extend my little errand run on B2. It was such a beautiful morning and I haven’t been out biking much yet. Derek was teaching at the motorcycle course so I rode out there, planning to drive past the parking lot where the groups would be working on their technique and then come home. I drove past them but I didn’t see Derek so I turned around and did another pass. There he was – he saw me and waved. For some reason I chose that moment, in front of a few dozen motorcycle students, to kick it up to third gear instead of kicking it down to first and I stalled the bike. It was pretty minor as far as humiliating moments go but it’s part of a pattern in my life! The second and I mean the SECOND I think I have it all together, I do something goofy. You’d think I’d stop any thoughts of having it all together but nooooo. That’s not how the dork gods work!
Professionally, I work best under pressure. When I absolutely have to complete or excel at something I generally do. But personally? I turn into a puppet being operated by a drunk monkey. I wonder if there’s a name for this condition? And I wonder how many other people have it.
Before political correctness went awry, we would say that you experienced a blond moment, but we’re not allowed to say that any more. So we’ll simply call it the OEM syndrome, or the Opportunistic Embarrassing Moment syndrome.
OEM – I like that. It shall be so!