Lately I've seen that suggested as a blog topic, seen it discussed in some magazine and actually had someone ask me the question. I hate questions like this, not because I hate sharing my embarrassing moments (I used to have a series on here called "Mildly Embarrassing Monday", after all), but because I find choosing my MOST embarrassing moment just about impossible.
There are so many to choose from.
One of the few that still makes me cringe, though, was one that happened in college. And I was COMPLETELY SOBER.
For most of my early college time, I had a boyfriend - the first serious boyfriend I'd ever had. I was over him long before I actually got around to breaking up with him, because I was so clueless I didn't even realize that my lack of interest in talking to him on the phone or writing letters to him (it was 1991, okay?) meant that I'd probably lost interest in him altogether.
Until I met Trip.* Trip lived in the dorm next door. He was witty and tortured and cute, which basically made him catnip to me. He also had a HUGE drinking problem, but I didn't notice. Anyway, so I develop this crush on Trip, finally break up with the boyfriend and keep hoping that Trip will do something other than flirt with me and kiss me good-night.
I write to Trip over the summer, Trip does not write back.
But we start talking on the phone in the fall, as I have moved off campus. We go on one lame date. I still like him even though he has shown me numerous times that he is not that interested, has a drinking problem and needs therapy for his mommy issues. I persist, and he asks me out on a "real" date with dinner plans and everything. He is supposed to call the day of to tell me what time he will be picking me up.
He does not call that day.
He does not call that evening.
I get pissed. And teary. Mostly pissed.
Do I go out with my roommate and get drunk? Do I call a friend and cry? Do I write the paper that is due on Monday? Do I realize that there are approximately 10,000 cute young men in Boston?
Nope. I call him. I call him and I start yelling about what a jerk he is. Except I don't think I used the word "jerk". I go on and on and on. I barely pause to take a breath, I am so full of anger and hurt and disappointment and months of daydreaming.
When I am finally done, the guy on the phone says, "Do you want to repeat that for Trip, or should I just let him know how you're feeling?"
And I realize that I have just vented all my emotions onto Trip's best friend. Who is laughing.
I still cringe whenever I think about it.
I think Trip called my apartment a few days later, but I had my roommate tell him I was out. So I never spoke to him - or to his best friend - again. Which is why I will encourage my children to attend large colleges in metropolitan areas. And to not make phone calls when they are extremely angry.
Definitely my most embarrassing phone call. Have you ever made a fool of yourself on the phone?
*Not his real name. But it could have been.