My nephew reminded me of something the other day. We were talking about something or another and he said “you don’t get embarrassed by anythingâ€. I gave him the innocent look as if I didn’t know what he meant and he added “what about the shopping trolley at Tesco!â€
I knew the time he meant instantly…..
My nephew was about 15 and had a new girlfriend. We were all going to Tesco and I had been told to be on ‘best behaviour’. This mean I wasn’t allowed to play the fart game – where I fart really loudly and then turn to my nephew and blame him in an equally load voice.
We arrived at the supermarket at around 2 in the afternoon, so it was rather busy. As we walk in it was like Mosses and the parting of the Red Sea. The main isle that ran the middle length of the supermarket seemed to clear of people. Ahead of me lay a clear long straight isle and there was me with the shopping trolley firmly gripped in my hands. It was a sign from God – the centre isle is never empty on a Saturday afternoon – I was being told to ride the shopping trolley (in a non-sexual way of course).
I took one step then another, faster and faster, pushing harder and harder. I was consumed by the vision of gliding gracefully down the isle, almost flying – like that bird Rose in Titanic when she stood at the bow of the ship. Now at full speed I took one almighty leap to fling myself over the back of the trolley. The instant my body made contact with the trolley I felt the front wheels lift from the floor. The trolley was empty and one of those smaller high basket ones – darn no counter balance! :shock:
I had all but a split second to react – do I abort, my feet may have been 3 foot off of the ground as I lay horizontal across the trolley, but there was still time to abort the mission and bring my feet down. For some reason, I know not what, in that moment of madness I made my decision…..
Still gripping firmly on the handle I pushed the trolley forward from underneath me. The fount wheels still lifting and me still horizontal, I made no attempt to put my feet onto the floor. Instead I used the momentum of myself and the now almost upturned trolley to go……………….. body-surfing down the floor of the isle.
As gravity took hold and pulled me closer to the floor the trolley became totally upturned and hit the floor with a load announcing crash. Apparently I had travelled a good 12 foot in midair before making contact with the floor and then cleared 3 of the crossing isles before coming to an undignified halt amongst a crowd of people with gapping mouths. I looked up at my unfamiliar audience and smiled, stood up, put the trolley back upright and wandered back a few isles to reclaim my lost footwear.
For some reason my nephew was bright red and his girlfriend looked as if she was about to faint with shock. Totally embarrassed my nephew stood there waiting for some form of explanation….. “Shall we have Mexican?†I asked.
We lose something special when we become adults – live life to the full and do something childish every day – you will be richer for it in ways that money cannot buy.