Embarrassing AH/HD Impulses
Over the years I've learned to laugh at my AD/HD fueled moments, especially the impulsive ones. I had a chance to recall one a few weeks ago when an author friend was asking readers if they had ever lost control of themselves around a celebrity. I'm usually fairly cool around celebrities and I have my AD/HD to thank. There was one time I lost it around a celebrity. Once. The experience was so embarrassing that I have been calm and collected around them ever since.
However, first there was that ONE time…
It was 1989 and I was heading back east for World Con in Boston. My flight out of SLC hadn't opened for boarding yet, so I wandered around the airport and walked right past Michael Keaton.
My thoughts went something like this: OHMIGOSHITSMICHAELKEATONRIGHTINFRONTOFMEITHINKISHOULDFOLLOWHIMANDWORKUPTHECOURAGETOSAYSOMETHINGOHMYGOSH!!!!!
He walked into the men's room.
I followed.
When I passed around the corner, I came to a stop in front of a cinematic god whizzing in a public urinal. And then I thought:
WHATONEARTHAREYOUDOINGYOUMORONDONTJUSTSTANDTHERESTARINGATTHEMANPEEINGFORCRYINGOUTLOUDHAVESOMEPRIDEIFHESEESYOUSTARINGHELLNEVERTALKTOYOUMOOOOVE!!!!
I darted around the corner and stared at myself in the bathroom mirror. My heart was pounding, I was panting, and I tried desperately to calm myself so I could talk to him.
Before I was ready, Michael Keaton was walking up to the sink next to me.
I turned to face him and blurted out, "I JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT DESPITE WHAT THE CRITICS SAY I THOUGHT YOU WERE BRILLIANT IN BATMAN."
The man hadn't even finished washing his hands yet.
I may have even tried to shake his hand while it was still soapy. I can't remember. It's all a blur now. It wasn't my brightest moment…
Mr. Keaton was gracious and thanked me, but there was a look of puzzled bemusement on his face. Twenty years later I may still cringe, but now only sheepishly and with a grin. AD/HD sure gives me plenty of humorous anecdotes to tell my future grandchildren, and if I'm ever famous enough to roast, I can provide plenty of material. There are far too many times I have inspired that puzzled look on people's faces, but I'm less likely to beat myself up about it these days. I like myself now, and I accept AD/HD as part of the package.
What are some of the funny, embarrassing things you found yourself impulsively doing? Any social fires you leaped into before thinking them through? Maybe you don't have AD/HD but you have a funny impulse story to share anyway. Leave a comment below.
Comments
I have a tendency to just blurt things out. My friends and I actually joke and laugh about it. They say I should have a phone in advice show because of my one liners.
An embarrassing time that comes to mind was when a friend and I were talking about being overweight. We were talking about how our individual weights were distributed throughout our bodies. I was saying that my excess weight is all in my stomach but my arms and such are pretty thin. Next, I blurted out "I wish I was more like you, you're fat is all over". Well what I meant was she was more evenly distributed which would make clothes shopping much easier but obviously that isn't what I said. Boy, was she angry. I still laugh.
For me, I like to laugh habitually. I seem to find everything amusing---even when it's not really meant to be. Sometimes I just laugh as a cover, too, when I simply don't know how else to respond. I've embarrassed myself this way so many times that I can't think of specific instances now.
Sometimes it's actually funny in meetings though, because it's so ridiculous when other people are talking to go "OH!" like I just remembered that you won the lottery...
Indigo Blues ~ That was hilarious. I can't imagine why she was angry with you.
Nikki ~ I can see how that could get awkward. I forget about most of my gaffes, too. Just like I forgot to DM you about what it was you tweeted that sparked my mind. Remind me again. I promise I'll do it today.
18 Channels ~ I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about. I never have that problem. No, really.
You're not buying it, are you?
Thanks for your comments, everyone. Makes blogging more meaningful for me.
~Douglas
u did write it, didnt u {smiles}
he was my fave Batman, b4 Begins.
at least his 2 movies were freaking consistent!