We checked into the Highlander Hotel near
Newtonmore, Scotland, and feasted on a spread of sliced beef and broiled
salmon.
As I stood up to leave the restaurant, I
stepped backwards from the table, and realizing there was a ceiling to wall
curtain behind me leaned slightly into it; expecting there to be a supporting
wall behind it. (I was sadly mistaken). I found myself falling backwards into
thin air. Realizing my calamitous predicament, my wife emitted a loud scream.
You’ve seen one of those commercials in which
the guy is walking through a bunch of folks who are unmoving, and seem to be
frozen in place? I picture the scene in the restaurant very much the same way.
Well over a hundred men and women frozen in place, and looking in our
direction.
Thankfully, I righted myself. (Perhaps the
result of plenty of practice while working at UPS, as well as falling off
bicycles). At any rate, the curtain bore the brunt of it, and I managed to tear
the hem a bit at the ceiling. The near accident averted, I smiled sheepishly,
looked over at a nearby table, at which was seated several of our group
members, and I …snapped out a military salute!
Counting the two songs I have been privileged
to sing to our group during this overseas tour, I suppose I will be referring
to this mishap as my “Third Presentation” a.k.a. “Oh So Close to Falling on my
Butt Presentation.” And whereas, my wife made videos of the first two
renditions, I would rather have had one of my momentary mishap. I think it
would be a hoot.
When it is “all said and done,” I hope no one
thought I had partaken of a wee bit too much of the Guinness or Scottish whisky
that night; which I had not. At any rate, it isn’t the first time I’ve made a
fool of myself in public.
by William McDonald, PhD. Excerpt from "Returning in Their Place." Copyright 2018
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