After a two day headache from hell, I'm rather grateful to be able to pluck another meme from the pile. This one is from Babaloo ( so long ago, it may have even been last year)List 'five random facts' or as I prefer to say Things What I Have Done or Had Happen.
1. I have always had a thing about dogs. Pictured is my seventh birthday present - Cora. Wasn't she a babe? She had fur a small child could lose herself in. We were just like Lassie and Jeff, Cora and I, except of course that I was a girl and used to push her around in a doll's pram. The fact that dogs needed exercise hadn't dawned on me then.
2. As a teenager I was so shy that if someone spoke to me I would lay down and whimper. Peversely, I joined a band and managed to sing on stage, something which still surprises me.
3. When I was eight months pregnant with The Teenager, I was stopped in my car one night by the police. It was all very dramatic. One minute I was in the car and the next up against a wall and surrounded by armed police. It was a case of mistaken identity of course and was allowed on my way, slightly shaken but not stirred and thankfully not in labour. Nowadays, I would probably be on the front page of The Sun, demanding compensation.
4. I was once sacked from a bookshop in the Tottenham Court Road for ... you guessed it, reading the books.
5. Now this last one I wasn't going to tell you but I will because it happened. It was a wake up call. I was standing next to a man in Tesco. We were both looking at the greetings cards and he fell to the floor. Dead. He made a noise like when you take the stopper out of a paddling pool and that was it. There was a doctor in the store and everything was done that could be done. I didn't know him but it sticks in my mind as it illustrates the fine line we walk everyday.
So the moral of this meme is, exercise your dog, overcome your shyness, don't take mistaken identity personally, (unless they shoot you of course) don't have a job where the temptation is too great and appreciate every day because you just never know.
I'm not tagging because this one has been around and around. If you're new on the blog or recovering from a headache, it's yours.
34 comments:
'Unless they shoot you'!!!! Oh, Lane, that is most snortlesome. Most snortlesome indeed.
I appreciate you starting my day with a smile. Cheers old girl!
I was shy too and then went into acting...funny how that works.
Number 5 must have been a bit of a shocker. I know what you mean about appreciating every day though, I've known/known of several people who've just dropped down dead with no warning in the last few years, so you really don't ever know.
I was also very shy and used to act - amazing the power of the stage. Cora is gorgeous by the way!
re number 2: best way to overcome your shyness is get up on a stage, whether it's acting or singing.
re number 3: Where they looking for a heavily pregnant bank robber? I don't dare imagine...
re number 5: What a shock. You don't expect that kind of thing. At all.
I know these memes can be tiresome when you have to write them but they're fun to read for everyone else!
I want to go like your friend in Tesco's ...please Mr God. Mr? Why, Mr? Ms God.
I love Cora. First dogs are so special.
Too funny Lane! You have cheered me up no end this morning. Cora truly is a babe, and the dog I always wanted, except when I was 7 I got a border collie cross because my parents got ripped off!
Man in Tesco - scary, but sadly happens. It happened to my friend's best friend, many years ago. They were looking in a shop window and she had an annurism, and that was that. In a blink of an eye. Gone. My friend never really got over that one.
Live every day like it's your last is probably good advice, as long as you don't a)rob a bank, b) do anything else too illegal, or c) do anything that really might make it your last day!
And yes - fix spell checker please blogger!
NO WAY! You got given a Lassie! Oooooh. I really, really wanted a Lassie...or a littlest Hobo (or any TV dog) but no dogs. :o(
Gosh..number 5 is astonishing. Was he an old man? Did you try and give him CPR or anything or did you shout for help? I've got NO IDEA what I'd do in that situation. Note to self: Do first aid course.
oh my, that last one gave me pause. wow.
and i was thrilled to read about you getting sacked from the bookstore. not because you got sacked, but because (as of last april) we've been to tottenham court road! makes me feel so well-traveled.
Top post, Lane. Thanks for sharing, Makes you think, doesn't it?
Nik
Cora looks a lot like my Grandma's first dog, Wendy. Beautiful.
No-one's ever dropped dead in front of me thankfully, but I can relate to the shyness. Becoming a pub manager (long story, not very interesting) knocked it out of me to a large extent, but I still quiver at the thought of meeting new people and I go bright red at the drop of a hat. Luckily, people don't drop hats very often these days.
Is it too late to demand compensation..........??
Haha! Fantastic, as always, Lane!
I love that you were sacked from a bookshop for reading books! Sorry I shouldn't laugh but that's just the sort of thing I would do myself ... how do they expect you to be in a place filled with books and not read them?
Well, another meme for your pile! I've tagged you with a fab picture meme from the lovely Casdok.
Hope your headache is better? have you tried massaging your temples and forehead with lavender oil? I use lavender oil for everything!
:o)
Ouch--those migraine's really hurt. I used to suffer from them for many years.
I too was exceedingly shy, probably because my older brother was an extrovert and everyone kept asking why didn't I talk as much. I became what was expected of me. We don't realize the impact that words have on kids.
The greeting card incident is bizarre. Is there a story in the experience ... or best forgotten?
Your ability to do memes always amazes me. Your honesty even more! You made my Friday start out right - thank you Lane!
Lane, sorry to hear about your headache, hope whatever caused it has been resolved.
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You are so right about appreciating every day. We have just lost a friend from cancer he leaves behind a wife and two young children. I think sometimes we live life too much in the past and future and forget to live during the moment. TFX
I can't believe that they had an eight month pregnant woman against a wall, mistaken identity or not!
My grandparents had a Cora, he was a boy though and called Jock and I insisted on pushing one of my cats (I had three called Smokey Joe, strange child that I was) and used to push him around in a small plastic pram.
I was never shy as a child though but am more so now.
Cora was beautiful!! My auntie had a dog like Cora. She was called Vicki, or to give her her 'proper Sunday Name' she was called Victoria Cassandra! Anyway, I used to sit with her and brush her fur for ages. It was so soft and shiny. When I wasn't brushing it I was hiding my stickle bricks in it and wondering how many would stay and how many would fall out when she stood up. I wasn't allowed a dog of my own.
SpiralJen - Thank you old girl:-)
Pacha - I suppose if you're shy, it's easier to be someone else than yourself. You were an actor??
Helenmh - I've known a few people too. Not nice and makes you grateful for your time.
flowerpot - I think acting is an outlet for shy people isn't it. And yes, Cora was a beauty:-)
Babaloo - re. no3. I've no idea who they were looking for. I think it was the car they mistook. Camden town at one in the morning can be a scary place.
Thanks for the tag. It was just what I needed today:-)
Fiona - no you're not going to go that way. Quick yes, but not Tescos please. And yes, first dogs sort of set the tone don't they?
Hesitant - but a border collie cross! Sounds like a brilliant first dog! I'm sorry about your friend. Awful. Live each day :-)
CTaylor - aw I'm sorry you didn't get a Lassie or a Hobo. Cora wasn't exactly a Lassie. She was actually not much bigger than a Sheltie but she suited me fine:-)
No he wasn't old at all, maybe 50. It was weird because it was like everything was in slow motion. I felt him fall and remember thinking, 'he's fainting, I must catch his head'. Turned to bend down and a man came hurtling over, who happened to be a doctor and the Tesco staff, give them their due, flew into emergency action with screens and clearing the area, like they do it every day.
(I haven't done first aid for years and really need a course too).
Laurie - you are well travelled Laurie. I hope you didn't go in that bookshop:-)
Nik - It certainly does Nik. And thank you:-)
Karen - a pub manager? There's a few stories there I would think:-)
Compensation after 16 years?? hhmm:-)
Moondreamer - thanks for the tag:-)
I love lavender oil and use it alot. Doesn't touch really bad headaches though unfortunately. Great to help with sleep though:-)
Billy - You're right about the power of words. Being known as 'the shy one' just makes it worse.
Re - greeting card incident, it wasn't that long ago but maybe one day, it will surface in some form. At the moment it just seems a bit impolite to use it fictionally.
Aims - thank you m'dear. That's so nice of you to say so:-)
tom Foolery - thank you re headache. It's gone now. What caused it - maybe not.
so sorry about your friend. It's just awful. You're right, there is only the 'now'.
Debs - three cats with the same name??
I only ever used the pram for pushing animals around in too:-)
Sarahg - lol at the stickle bricks! I can just picture it:-)
Cora had so much fur that when my mother brought home a stray kitten, she (cora) let him sleep in it, totally hidden. Aw.
The Tesco one has got under my skin, Lane. Reminds me of my grandma's advice about never parting from your spouse in the morning on bad terms. She thought you could go to sleep annoyed but should wake up forgiving and forgiven!
So many of your answers made me think. It seems that so many of us were shy when younger. Perhaps it's a writerly thing?
I was quiet and shy up until about 13 and then I suddenly found my voice and wouldn't shut up.
I'd have murdered for a Cora when I was seven. I always wanted a dog but didn't get one until I was 13 (actually I wonder if it had anything to do with being at the same time as I found my confidence?)
It must have been awful for you in Tescos. On millenium night a 19 year old young lad in our street went out celebrating in town. A policeman found him slumped in an alleyway. Everyone who passed by thought he was drunk and just left him there. When the policeman found him he was dead. He'd died of a brain haemorrhage and wasn't drunk at all. It was tragic.
God! that must have been awful! someone dropping dead in front of you! cant believe it..
Laughed when you got sacked for reading, that doesnt surprise me at all!!!
Im still really shy but was crip shy when I was young, so always forced myself into outrag situations to try and overcome it!
I love dogs too but prefer cats these days.
elizabethm - your Grandma's advice was spot on. I can't imagine how the poor man's family felt.
Annie - Interesting that you lost your shyness when you got a dog:-)
oh my that's awful about the young lad. Tragic.
motherx - I laugh about getting the sack now. At the time (still shy) I was mortified:-)
You brought back a memory - at the ripe old age of 20 attending mass in Monaco's cathedral and nun dropped dead in front of me - not dropped really but kealed over as in sleep. She didn't move for quite a while and the other nuns with her didn't take notice so I leaned over and took her pulse in her neck - none. I then tapped the other nun on the should and tried to quietyly whisper in school girl french that she was dead. An usher was swiftly summoned and she was whisked out. I can't help thinking what a peaceful way to go :-)
Got a lovely award for you, Lane. Over at my place, come and get it.
I love that you were sacked from a book shop for reading the books!! (That made me snort with laughter in the most attractive manner!!)
Number 5 must have been quite a shock!! I have no idea what the hell I would have done in that situation!!
C x
Liz - that's some story. For a nun it must be the best way to go. Thanks for telling me:-)
babaloo - thank you! i'm being spoilt:-)
Carol - glad that made you snort. Chris must wonder about you sometimes!
What was so shameful Carol, was that they asked me leave that lunchtime, that very day. Talk about the 'walk of shame'.
Glad your headache has gone. Don't know if it's any use but I got terrible headaches that nothing worked on until I found Syndol, which has a muscle relaxant in. Magic stuff!
What a mean book shop! You were just familiarising yourself with the stock!
award for you at my place!!!
Sorry to hear of your headache.
Love the moral of your meme!
Got another award for you at my place...
After visiting http://www.whatcausespanicattacks.com, I have learnt so much more about overcoming shyness, and exercises to improve my social skills. It has definitely made a difference to my social life; you should check it out too!
You are too, too funny!
"Slightly shaken but not stirred..."
LMAO
LOL! These are amazing.
i like this dog (and I am not a dog person) but i don't know if it's the picture or the dog .. but it looks graceful .. a family dog. nice
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