I had been wandering the parking lot for a while looking for a vacant spot. My class was starting and I had left in plenty of time to make it to campus, find a spot, walk to class, print out my assignment and sit in my seat before my professor started to lecture. I thought. Apparently not.
I saw a blank spot in between some cars and readily maneuvered to slide into the spot. Then I saw the pile. Snow. Not too intimidating. Snow is soft and can be easily shoveled away. But the pile was sly. It was disguised as a snow pile. In reality, it was a snow covered ice trap. I revved into the spot. I slid a little too close to one of my neighbors and so tried to pull out to make it easier for them to get into their driver's side door if they get back to their vehicle before I do.
But I couldn't pull out.
The ice trap had ensnared my left front tire. I had made it over the first bump of ice and my tire had settled into the saddle of the ice. The snow had cushioned and cloaked the real state of affairs. I tried putting the van into drive and going forward in order to let me gain some momentum as I gave it my all in reverse. No dice. Over and over again, with the same result. (I heard once that is called insanity.) So I gave up. I went to class.
As I walked I wondered how I had fell into that trap. I wasn't an unintelligent, jump-before-I-look, ignore-the-consequences-cuz-I'm-cute-and-a-big-buff-males-will-willingly-fight-to-have-the-honor-of-getting-me-out-of-them-anyway type of girl. I am an independent and figure-my-own-ways-out-of-problems and usually-avoid-those-problems-in-the-first-place type of girl. At least I thought so, but this sticky situation got me wondering what type of girl I really was and if I had just been fooling myself in the past.
After class I thought about just walking to work and not dealing with my identity crisis. Then I thought I might try at least one idea before giving up and heading to work, leaving my van in the conspicuous position of declaring my incompetence. On my way down the Richard Building Stairs I scooped up a handful of pine needles and refuse from underneath the evergreen bushes. I cradled my precious cargo that could release me from my ignominy.
My walk seemed like a march of shame. People stared at my dried needle filled glove. They must have wondered what compelled me to hold on to such material.
I reached my van, pulled forward as far as I could in the embankment of ice, parked and sprinkled my magic get-outta-jail-free fairy dust underneath the back of the tire, in between the rubber and the ice. I said a prayer underneath my breath that I wouldn't slide into my very close neighbor as I shifted to reverse. I gave it one good umph with the accelerator and I broke free! Phew. My time of shame had come to an end. I arrived at work on time. I conquered! And now I've made my shame complete by sharing with all of you.
