Jan8

slip sliding away –

Posted on by
Standard

Slip sliding away, slip sliding away – You know the nearer your destination, the more you slip sliding away  – paul simon

and yes, it’s another polar vortex day at home, and yes, i have yet another personal tale of slip sliding away. 

 Image

this one involved a first date. it was back when i was a cocktail waitress, working at a hotel, putting myself through school, a single mother, not sleeping a lot, and without much of a nightlife other than work. he was one of our regular customers, friendly, quiet, always alone, polite, settled in his life. a one-beer kind of man. 

on our big night out, we went to dinner and then to my hotel’s employee holiday party. he knew all of the staff and so it was relaxed and easy for both of us. after some socializing, and one or three cocktails, we left for the night,.

 i didn’t know that while we were busy being social inside, the temperature had dropped, and it had gotten icy outside. i was all dressed up in heels and pearls and big hair and skirt, and feeling quite happy and pretty. as we got to the parking lot, i slid on a patch of black ice near the passenger side, and somehow ended up partially beneath his car. he quickly jumped in to help me out from under it, and back up on my feet, and i was absolutely beside myself in tears, not from any injury, but from laughing so hard. and i could not stop laughing, as the only thing hurt was my pride. 

 after looking up at his face, and seeing that he was not laughing along with me, i said, ‘i was just checking your muffler,’ thinking it might help him to  relax into the situation a bit. he just looked back at me with a poker face, asked me if i was okay, quietly opened my door, and helped me into his car. he never even cracked a smile, or made a comment, and instead, acted as if nothing unusual had just happened. he was a ‘perfect gentleman’ by some standards.

 i instantly realized this had been an unexpected gift from the universe, a sort of litmus test of his approach to life and relationships. i knew that we were not a good match. i knew that we lived life differently. i knew that i would smile and say, ‘hi’ when he came in to the hotel the next time, and we would speak nothing of it. i knew why he felt more comfortable being there alone. i knew it was to be our first and last date.

Image

 

 “Some accidents there are in life that a little folly is necessary to help us out of.” – Francois de La Rochefoucauld

 

 

 

Discover more from I didn't have my glasses on....

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

49 responses »

  1. Wow. What a happy accident. I don’t know how this fella acted like nothing happened. First reaction: Are you hurt? Second reaction: No? I guess you just fell for me. Or something like that. Thanks for sharing, Beth.

    Like

    Reply ↓

    • mark – i agree, but i don’t think he saw it that way at all. he was a very nice man, we just approached life differently. and yes, that would have been a wonderful response in my eyes.

      Like

      Reply ↓

  2. Super insight/write/attitude and story! I can relate all the way!!

    wonder what DOES go through such a repressed person’s mind at such a time/incident. He must have been horrified—so afraid of life he sounds…

    Like

    Reply ↓

  3. What is it with you and sliding under cars? Obviously you married and had kids with the right guy because your daughter enjoyed the moment when it happened again. LOL Way to go, Beth, you are the best!! Warmly, Brenda

    Like

    Reply ↓

  4. When I was in college in Chicago I was invited to a New Years party at one of those big mansions on the lake — the kind you normally only get a glimpse of through their (gated) entryways. I was sure that it was going to be like something out of a movie, and I was wild with excitement. My date slipped on the ice as got out of the car and had to go to the hospital, where it turned out he had broken his jaw. My mother thought I owed him marriage and children after that, but I was still mad about the party. I drove him home and never saw him again.

    Like

    Reply ↓

  7. Beth, you were so wise to be able to see that. I used to make all kinds of excuses for guys I went out with, because having a guy to think about was preferable to being alone. I finally outgrew that way of thinking, after kissing a ton of frogs. :) Awesome story.

    Like

    Reply ↓

  12. Great quote! That captured the “folly” had you chosen a second date with this stoic, quiet man. I have not had this experience, per se, falling under the car like you have had slipping twice in your life on ice. I only am happy that he didn’t try to take a picture of you, skirt pulled up or something! You sounded so lovely for your employee party, even pearls! Smile, Robin

    Like

    Reply ↓

      • I worry that this may be my ‘downfall,’ too, with guys. I search for more of the wild, fun-loving, adventurous guys whereas my two best friends, one of 20 + years and the other of 30+ years both married what they considered ‘nerds’ on first sight. Sturdy and safe, on second glance. Neither felt the “sparks” and keep saying that their lives are happier, more content and ‘why oh why? cannot I find myself a stable man!’ Smiles, Robin

        Like

        Reply ↓

  14. I agree with Brenda in her earlier comment, Beth, you seem to have a thing for sliding under cars … :). Too funny! You should make sure in all instances on future dates that involve a trip in a car, that whoever you are riding with opens your door for you, and the same goes for any trips with any of your family members.

    Like

    Reply ↓

  16. I shouldn’t laugh at your expense but this is hilarious – can you please just stay off the roads in general? That may help. Loved the title and the quote ~ excellent..and I can’t stop having the visual :-D ;-) xx

    Like

    Reply ↓

  18. Hahaha, sorry but when a person falls down like that, it’s all I can do to keep myself from busting out in laughter until I know they’re okay. Once I know, i lose it! he sounds rather icy himself. ha, see what i did there???

    Like

    Reply ↓

  19. Wow. Great story. And yes, what an amazingly telling moment–and as you say a gift. That was all you needed to know right there. Great post and always you choose such great pictures as well. :)

    Like

    Reply ↓

  21. I love it Beth. You had me rolling, and remembering. Mine was not a date, but a business luncheon. We are walking along talking and the next thing I knew I was gazing at the white fluffy clouds going by. The funny thing is the person right next to me just kept on walking and talking. I suppose I managed to fall with more grace than I imagined. Getting up, not so much, in a straight skirt on an icy sidewalk, with a wet butt, laughing hysterically…did I mention we were on a busy street at lunch? Oh to have had a camera, it would have made me rich! Thank you for the trip down memory lane!

    Like

    Reply ↓

Leave a comment