Thursday, August 29, 2013

4. interlude – ellen gets stuck in the shower


So Tuesday morning, the second day, I woke up from a sad dream about my son with tears in my eyes and a headache and I still hadn't gotten a good night's sleep. I had set the alarm so that I would be sure to wake up for the morning meditation and I had 30 minutes to take a shower, get dressed, and get over to the Zendo.

I took some ibuprofen and collected my towel and stuff and padded down the hall to the shower which was a separate little room from the toilet and sink and thoughtlessly locked the door behind me. I got undressed and got my shampoo and washcloth and pulled the shower door open, closed it behind me and proceeded to wash my hair and body.

Finished with my shower, I used the squeegee and wiped down the shower and glass door, put the squeegee down and pulled on the shower door sideways to open it and it wouldn't budge.

OK. So I give it another pull. Then again with both hands and it still will not slide open.

Great, I think, I'm stuck naked in the freakin' shower. I give it another try with all the strength I can muster.

Finally I called out 'help' and the woman in the room next to mine happened to be passing by and stopped and called out to me so I told her I was stuck in the shower, that I could not get the door open.

She tries the door and because I had the foresight to lock myself in, she can't get in to help me. So I'm stuck in the shower trying my best to slide it open sideways, five people are freaking out in the corridor (there was just two of us, Abilasha said, when I was relating the story to someone else), and Eryl, one of the caretakers is rounding the corner with the key to unlock the door when in my frustration I slapped the glass of the shower door with the flat of my palm and...

the door swung right open.

Just like the swinging door it was and not like the sliding door I had convinced myself it was when I wanted out.

Never mind, I called out, I got it open.

After assuring everyone that I was fine, that I was out of the shower, and thanking them for their attempts to help me, I dressed and made my way to the Zendo where I engaged in some much needed 'centering'.


When I meet new people, especially people I am going to be spending a lot of time with, I tend to be a little reserved at first, because, as I have learned, I can be a little hard to take sometimes. But after you prove to everyone right off the bat what a freakin' total idiot you can be, I mean, what's the point, right?

So I laughed at myself and related the story later in the day to a few of the women who were feeling...less than enthusiastic at that point. We were, as a group, becoming, and but we hadn't become yet. We did all get well knitted together I think and easily by the mid-point of the week. All us individual threads got picked up and woven into this phenomenal group of women (and the three men in our midst) and artists sharing, with all the vulnerability that goes with that and support, and expertise.

Well. Needless to say, I was relaxed and just me after that.

Whatever that is.


more next post



14 comments:

  1. a little embarrassment, a little trauma, shakes that nervousness right out of you. :)

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  2. Sheesh!!! So stuff happens to other people too... I thought the only person that things like that, is me.

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  3. Every thing happens for a reason...maybe you were the lesson for the evening.

    I, too, thought I was the only one who did stuff like that.

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  4. I do things like that all the time now- mistake a pusher for a slider, etc.
    Is this age? Scatter-brainedness? Lack of focus?
    Whatever.
    I am glad things turned out for the best, as they so often do.

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  5. That's the kind of thing I would do for sure :)

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  6. Me too! I would absolutely do that! Just when I'm beginning to feel on top of things I do something just like that.

    You made yourself vulnerable right off the bat, & it was good for everybody.

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  7. A moment of stupidity is a great leveler. Good job.

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  8. Ah yes. I can totally see this kind of thing happening to me too. Glad you could use it as a bonding experience later!

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  9. Ah yes. I can totally see this kind of thing happening to me too. Glad you could use it as a bonding experience later!

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  10. From that moment on, you became "that girl"!
    Glad you got back into your clothes and your "real" self.

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  11. all things happen....whatever the reason. Gawd how I hate it when I do "goofy" things like that. I'm glad it leveled things out for you and the others.
    We have a way of teasing each other because of doors and how they operate. Shelley will say...it is an LLLLL not a SHHHHH on the pu. This is because I fought with a door at a department door one Christmas, much to both of our embarrassment. Oh well. A red face is most attractive on the bearer when it is long over.

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  12. See? You got your lesson in creativity. And it was free!

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  13. we all get stuck somewhere at some point in our lives!!! LOL! thanks for sharing!

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  14. Oh I so would have done the same thing. Of course all things do happen for a reason.

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I opened my big mouth, now it's your turn.