Pride

My Grandma likes to tell me the story of how "pride goeth before the fall." She was walking home one day, after a routine doctor's appointment where all the nurses had commented on how well she was doing, how pretty her hair looked, what good shape she was in for someone her age...when out of the blue, she tripped over a crack in the sidewalk and fell, breaking both of her wrists. It's a terrible story, and a memory I'd like to forget, thank you very much, but my grandma, ever so cheerful just smiles and says, "You know, pride goeth before a fall." "I was walking along very pleased with myself then..." At this point of the story she always gestures with her hands, like she is leading an invisible band. (I don't know why she makes that gesture, but everyone who knows her will know immediately what I'm talking about.)

I thought about that lesson the other day. And had my own lesson in pride and what comes next. You see, when I'm in the back room, creating chocolate-y goodies, most times I wear an apron. But the other day, I was wearing my favorite jeans, and a cute top, and I was feeling pretty snazzy. Shoes, hair, outfit...everything that day just clicked. I wasn't about to mess up my cute little look with an apron, no sir.

Now, you have to know that I have this mindless habit of wiping my hands on my apron...and I was working with white chocolate that day...and there was no apron.

Fast forward to closing time, and I stopped by the Food Kitty to pick up a few forgotten items, and just felt too cute to buy groceries. Like that Right Said Fred song, I'm too sexy for this store, too sexy to buy bread, too sexy by far.. Got a couple of glances from the checkout guys, nice. Bread restocker guy smiled at me. Wow, I must look cuter than I thought! Lady on Aisle 3 smiled and giggled when I passed. (Guess she over-heard the ever-witty comment I made to the kiddos.) Got to the counter with my haul, and guess what! The lady in front of me let me go ahead of her...how nice. I made another witty remark, and she laughed. Man! I am popular in the Food Lion today!

You are probably guessing by now the real reason everyone was eager to glance my way. Yes, I had wiped my white-chocolate hands on my pants and there, on the backside of my cute jeans were two white hand-prints. Snickering kids filled me in AFTER we got home. Thanks, thanks a lot. You're all grounded!

In retrospect, I guess it could have been a lot worse. I didn't REALLY fall, like Grandma, but the bruise to my ego lasted a few days. And, if you're listening God, I learned my lesson. No more pride, and wear that apron!