Photo by Tom Fisk from pexels.com
Let me tell you a story about this person who needed to obtain an important piece of documentation somewhere in an old basement facility. Questions were asked, directions were given, and there was resolve and certainty regarding the path to take. Or at least an idea of the path. As expected in old labyrinthine basement facilities, this person got lost. Out of instinct, this person immediately approached the lone human being walking along the long white corridor from the opposite direction. “Excuse me, I’m trying to find Room X would you know where that is?” Other human started laughing and says “I’m lost too! I’m trying to find facility Y!” Our person felt so sorry because the other human was very, I mean, very far. You see, this underground layout connects a system of similar facilities which are otherwise different buildings above ground. It was most likely created to facilitate ease of transfer especially in harsh weather.
Luckily, our main person found the room…only to find out that there were additional requirements before getting the aforementioned important piece of documentation. So this person decided to use the tunnels to return to the point of origin—facility Z (‘zed’)—perhaps out of adventure, but more likely because the elevators take forever. It was a looong tunnel. A tunnel that is supposed to cut across a wide main avenue above ground. The end of the tunnel is supposed to lead to facility Z and A. No further signage was presented to direct anybody as to which among the series of paths lead to either. A decision was made because people were staring at this person who clearly did not belong (i.e. not in uniform and no badge)—elevator going up!..An Old elevator going up. Staff sees person and says “this is a service elevator, you cannot use this, go to the adjacent car”. Embarrassed yet obedient, our person finds their way to the designated Nth floor of facility Z. Ding. Exit. What is this place? This is not the place! Lady appears and our person asks “Hello, I’m trying to get to the Nth floor of facility Z?” And lady gives our person a look of pity and goes, “Dear, you are in facility A…go down the 2nd floor and there’s a single path that leads to facility Z.” Person is accompanied by lady. Hurray, our person has found their way.
It was me—a few days ago. LOL. My underarm wetness was so profuse due to a combination of fear, embarrassment, and frustration. Well, as Rob Thomas belted out in that “Meet the Robinsons” theme song: “Let it go, let it roll right off your shoulders don’t you know the hardest part is over…”
Certainly the apropos time to post this story because I clearly felt like a fool. Like a naive jester clown if that even makes sense. Cheers. *laughing at myself*
