I was carefully peeling the skin off the remainder of a prime organic avocado. Right as I finished, it slipped out of my hand and plopped directly into a bowl full of suds sitting in the sink. The plop invoked an immediate OOPS, and I quickly let the surprise and dismay go. What a perfect addition it would have been to my salad!
Flowers
I purchased a dozen beautiful roses and carefully arranged them in a vase. A couple of days later, they were bent over and wilted. Upset and mystified, I lifted them out of the vase and discovered I had forgotten to add water. I understand how the oversight happened in arranging them in the vase to make sure the length was right. Still, I felt very sad that under my care, the life of such living beauty came to a premature end. What could I say but OOPS, vow to be more mindful, and move onward?
Integration
I started a new piece of art focusing on gently squirting various colors of acrylic gouache onto claybord. Running low on white, I held the small plastic bottle close to the surface and started squeezing to get as much out as possible. To my shock and dismay, it slipped out of my hand and landed smack dab in the middle of the most concentrated section of colors. Momentarily immobilized and not knowing what to do, I just said screw it, I’ll roll with it and see what happens. Literally, I started rolling the bottle across the claybord, sideways, up and down. It was an amazing tool in that it easily merged and spread the colors. Letting go of expectations and judgments, the process became exciting. I found myself giggling because of how it so unexpectedly turned out. Yet another instance of integrating an OOPS moment, thereby allowing for discovery and heightened awareness.
Acupuncture
A few days ago I visited my super duper, master acupuncturist for a treatment. Feeling considerably more optimistic and buoyant after, I met my son for lunch. We ordered and were preparing to sit at a table, at which point he looked at me and said, “Mom, you’ve got something on your head. Actually, there are 2 needles sticking out.” Bewildered, I reached up, felt the needles and gently removed them. Then I started laughing, realizing that this was an OOPS. My acupuncturist told me at the beginning of the treatment that they needed to stay in for a while, but he and I both forgot them as we concluded our session talking about politics and basketball. (As these were 2 points connecting to ancestral wisdom, I certainly didn’t mind).
This small 8”x10” piece immediately came to mind, and I’m thinking about giving it to him. Collaborating with him for over 20 years, I feel confident in his sense of humor and that this would be a token for redemption of sorts. Lol!
Visitation Mishap
Arriving at the hospital ward, a group of visitors walked by. Hearing a loud splat, I looked over and saw that a large container of soup had slipped out of a bag being carried and spilled all over the lovely blue carpet. As everyone scurried for the clean-up, all I could say was OOPS!
Multiple Oops
Last night after munching on a cooked rotisserie chicken while prepping and cooking cauliflower, I settled in for the evening. A short time later, the phone unexpected rang. My cousin was calling to ask if I forgot about her and her sister who were patiently waiting for me at a restaurant. Immediately I realized I got the dates muddled up as I had notated our dinner for the next week. Naturally, I apologized and said I’d be there soon. Feeling terrible for this atypical oversight, yet grateful the restaurant was close by, I jumped in my vehicle.
No time to look for parking, I scooted into the white zone and quickly gave the valet my key. Once inside the restaurant, even though I saw no sign of my cousins. I stood at the maitre d’s podium and insisted they were there somewhere. The maitre d’ and her assistants were completely confused as they kept searching through the list of reservations. Then I meekly said maybe I was in the wrong restaurant. Stepping to the side, I texted my cousins asking them where they were. The reply was Castagna. My response - I’ve never heard of that restaurant and where in the heck is it? The answer - the Marina across from Williams Sonoma. Oh God, another 20 minute drive! Luckily the valet had not whisked my vehicle away. I apologized to him, gave him a tip and was on my way.
Now I was mystified as the restaurant I recommended was Cotogna, and one of the cousins assured me she made a reservation there. Scratching my head, I walked into Castagna. Noting they were the only 2 people sitting at a table, meaning it was empty, I asked what happened to Cotogna? Then came the utterance of OOPS and OOPS, and we started laughing at the absurdity of the date mess-up and the unintended reservation. To top it off, I wasn’t even hungry.
Banana String
Short on time and unable to eat lunch before an afternoon meeting across the Bay Bridge, I grabbed a large banana and jumped in my vehicle. Non-messy and a quick energy source, I was set and, while driving, I ate it. As I was sitting and talking in the meeting, I inadvertently touched my chest which was exposed courtesy of the v-neck top and felt something weird stuck to it. Turns out it was a thick banana string that had already turned brown. I removed it, chuckled and said OOPS. Immediate levity! No big deal even though my physical presentation was temporarily flawed.
Perfect Oops
This is a double-layered piece. After gluing the top layer onto the bottom, I realized the text was upside down. OOPS, too late as the strong glue had already dried and, so, it just is.
Bicycle Mishap
I finally broke through resistance and brought my bike to a local shop for servicing. After being assured of great attention to detail, I gave the technician/owner the green light for any necessary work. (To be sure, a hefty invoice accompanied its return.) Relying on his assurances, new tires, etc., my friend and I packed our 2 bikes inside my vehicle and happily headed out of SF for a peninsula ride. Zooming along the freeway at 70, there was a sudden, extremely loud noise like a mini explosion. My friend asked if I was shot and bleeding anywhere and I asked her the same. Then we wondered if a tire blew out. But that wasn’t possible as my vehicle was operating smoothly. Still reeling from the jarring sound, I felt grateful both hands remained on the steering wheel and we didn’t swerve into another lane.
In thinking about pumping up the tires that morning and remembering a past experience wherein a tire was replaced only to have the inner tube explode while riding, I presumed the same thing happened. Sure enough! Our day quickly changed as we searched for a bike shop and waited for the repair. Ever so resilient, we ultimately had a great ride.
I learned that a downside to installing an inner tube not inflated is the risk of pinching and damaging it. The repairman said for that reason he always installs one inflated. Most definitely this was an OOPS and not on my part! So much for attention to detail. Additionally, the expensive light I was talked into getting fell off somewhere along the way because he had not secured it tightly in accordance with the instructions (per his later admission) and, well, OOPS again! Geez, I do pray all is well with the other adjustments and new parts.
Feeling a tad miffed, it took a little time for these multiple OOPS, to segue into levity and a bit of laughter.
Bulge in the pants
In September 2018 I went to a Sunday afternoon party in Sausalito. As it was a casual get together with friends, I donned a simple top and black skinny jeans. At one point towards the end, I crossed my legs and noticed a lump behind one knee. Mystified as to what it was, I immediately excused myself, headed to the bathroom, unfastened my pants and discovered a pair of tightly tucked Commando underwear. Being ultrasensitive on all fronts and having a keen eye, how I missed the feel and visual of the bulge when getting dressed and socializing is utterly perplexing. Then add how it got there. Anyway, I looked at myself in the mirror, said OOPS, smiled, and started laughing. Emerging from the bathroom, I wondered if anyone else noticed. I kept silently laughing as it didn’t matter.
New purchase short-lived joy
It was New Year’s Day, January 1, 2014. I felt super excited about going to an afternoon party to celebrate the forthcoming, wonderful possibilities of the new year and decided to wear intricately designed velvet pants and my brand new Christian Louboutin black suede ankle boots. True to form, these boots were special, works of art, and an investment, with the signature red soles the opposite of cheap!
After leaving the party, I noticed a WF market. Realizing I needed something for dinner, I made a quick right turn into the parking lot. My timing was perfect as organic, plain chickens were available hot off the rotisserie. I grabbed the plastic container and went to the Express checkout. Not paying close attention, the cashier placed the container in a small paper bag without any rubber band or masking tape to seal the lid.
Arriving back to the small house I was renting, rather than park in the confining garage, I chose to leave my vehicle in the deeply slanted driveway. When I opened the trunk, the container with the chicken slid out of the heat-induced torn bag with the unsecured lid easily detaching. The chicken hit my boots. The suede instantly soaked up all the juices omitting any need for a rag or paper towels. Horrified and stunned, I attempted damage control. Unfortunately, the right boot was never the same, and this certainly did not fit into the category of “wonderful possibilities.” OOPS!
The cereal debacle
It was all set to be a great Friday. I had just finished a workout, and was ready for my presentation followed by a birthday party for my best friend. Then the OOPS happened. After finishing up my breakfast bowl of cereal, I stood up to put the bowl into the sink. But as I stood up, I knocked the bowl out of my hands and sent the remaining milk and cereal all over the living room rug and hardwood floor. It was everywhere. If I had eaten everything in the cereal bowl, there would have been no issue at all. But I hadn’t finished all the cereal and there was plenty of milk left to make the mush a mess all over the ground. My Friday could only go up from there:)
The day I stepped into a puddle
If there was ever one day to step in a puddle, this was not one of them. I had an important interview followed by a date a few hours later. Walking in a rush to arrive at the interview on time, I was not looking down at the ground when my left foot dove deep into a muddy pool of water on the sidewalk. The dirty water instantly soaked my leather boots, socks, and crept halfway up my calf through my stylish new suede pants. What was I going to do? I was too far from my car and had 5 minutes before the interview appointment. How many napkins would I need to dry myself? I was freaking out, short of breath, and stumbled into the office building where the interview was being held, looking for a bathroom to undergo damage control. I dried myself as best I could, and the interviewer couldn’t tell anything had happened. But I knew what happened, and it was a major OOPS. I then had a date later that night and my dirty feet, ruined boots and new pants were not making me feel attractive. Sharing the story with my date actually turned out to be an awesome conversation starter, but I would have preferred to avoid this OOPS!