All kinds of funny things can happen to us. When they happen they can be embarrassing. Like the time I got mustard in my beard in a restaurant. I tried to wipe it, it spread, I went to the ‘rest room’ to clean it, and it only made my beard more yellow and of course the spot become a big smudge. The staff was amused with it so I decided (what else could I do) to laugh with them. Though now, I don’t use so much mustard when I am out. You can never be too careful with mustard.

Once I was just about to give a talk and I felt my face get very hot. Being so light skinned, I knew that I my face must be light up like a Christmas light. So I just asked everyone if my face was a red as red as it felt. They laughed, I laughed, and I gave my talk.

When I started giving talks, I used to be so nervous that I would beret myself all the way over to the conference telling myself: “Why are you doing this, this is crazy, this is my last talk”. Yet I continued. I used to write my notes in poem form, so I could read and not lose my place. Then one day, I just put my notes down, almost without knowing it and just gave my talk. I have actually learned to slow my racing, ADHD brain to slow down so I can talk in a manner that is not jumping all over the place. Thought does move faster than the mouth……so I am glad that I have learned to apply the brakes a bit. So many connections to go to when giving a talk, like a web, all threads are connected, but those who listen won’t be able to follow.

Once while in a full church, while the abbot was giving a homily during a profession, my cell phone went off. I forgot to put in on vibrate. It was loud the ring, and as I frantically tried to find my phone, in front of a church full of people, the abbot made a joke about it. I think I was so red that if the church was dark, I would have lit it up. I am thankful for the humor, everyone laughed and it saved me from being to self conscious after the episode.

Here is a case that happened to me right after I got to Panama in 58. One of the kids in the neighbor was showing me through the jungle. He pointed out a tree and said: “ see those little bugs flying”?. “Yes”, I responded, he said” don’t hit the tree”. So I hit it and suddenly both of our heads became a parking lot for these ‘bees’. I ran screaming out of the jungle and my friend with me. It took me a while to get them out. He screamed at me “What were you thinking”…..I responded….”I wasn’t I guess”. Now that was awkward to say the least.

I have learned that when embarrassed, it is me that is having the experience. Usually others may laugh, or shake their heads and then forget it. So I have learned to forget it and move on…..well there are still some memories that I won’t go into.