With Love & Laughter
Blessed is she who can laugh at herself for she will never cease to be amused.
(I keep that little motto taped to my bathroom mirror so I can laugh at the occasional egg on my face)
One of the many times all I could do was laugh at myself:
A number of years ago I was elected president of the Japan America Society of Central Florida. The Society was founded in 1910 to honor distinguished leaders of both countries and to build economic, cultural, governmental and personal relationships between the people of Japan and America.
My first official function was to host a dinner for an Ambassador from Japan and the Japanese Consul General. Already a student of the Japanese language I diligently practiced my first public speech which would be given at a celebration at Rangetsu of Tokyo Restaurant in Orlando. I was to welcome the ambassador as one of the first female presidents of the Society. All eyes would be on me.
That day I wore a conservative suit with a pencil straight skirt and flat shoes.
Being chronically early, I arrived twenty-minutes ahead of time. The hostess walked me into the private dining area. I left my shoes at the door as is the tradition, and slid down into the sunken seats which are below floor level tucking my legs demurely under the banquet table.
As I slipped into position my skirt rose up my leg. I tugged at the hem whereupon my bracelet caught on my panty hose at mid-thigh. I struggled to free the gold links from the tougher than steel fibers of my run-resistant hose, sweating as I further entangled the jewelry higher up on my thigh. I had succeeded in affixing my right wrist to my right leg just eight inches short of obscene.
As the true horror of my situation sunk into my newly-presidential brain, ceremonial drums thundered announcing the arrival of the guest of honor and his entourage. I could stay seated and be rude – which would be unforgivable. Or I could and did clamber out of the seat-well further tangling myself with myself. I hobbled to the red carpet area bent over, skirt jacked up to a distressing height, right wrist slammed against my right thigh.
The startled looks I received from the dignitaries, especially those who had sponsored me for the position of president will stay locked in my “laugh at myself” memory forever. The ambassador bowed to meet my “bow.” I could only guess what questions I raised in his mind about the strange culture in Orlando.
That night as I took off my makeup I smiled at my image in the mirror. Yes…blessed is she who can laugh at herself for she will always be amused. Groan…
As the true horror of my situation sunk into my newly-presidential brain, ceremonial drums thundered announcing the arrival of the guest of honor and his entourage. I could stay seated and be rude – which would be unforgivable. Or I could and did clamber out of the seat-well further tangling myself with myself. I hobbled to the red carpet area bent over, skirt jacked up to a distressing height, right wrist slammed against my right thigh.
The startled looks I received from the dignitaries, especially those who had sponsored me for the position of president will stay locked in my “laugh at myself” memory forever. The ambassador bowed to meet my “bow.” I could only guess what questions I raised in his mind about the strange culture in Orlando.
That night as I took off my makeup I smiled at my image in the mirror. Yes…blessed is she who can laugh at herself for she will always be amused. Groan…
ambassador bowed to meet my “bow.” I could only guess what questions I raised in his mind about the strange culture in Orlando.
That night as I took off my makeup I smiled at my image in the mirror. Yes…blessed is she who can laugh at herself for she will always be amused. Groan…
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