Paying Attention

Have you ever had an occasion where you should have "Paid more Attention"?  There are moments in life that put an exclamation point on some of these familiar sayings. They are the times that defines the true meanings of these strange sayings that truly don't make any sense. For example, when someone asks you to "pay attention" to something, are they actually paying you money or something for your attention?



Many years ago I understood the meaning of "Pay Attention" in a most embarrassing way..

My husband and I were driving home from a wonderful day at the Jersey shore when we both realized we had to use the bathroom (ah, yes.. another bathroom story).. We stopped in a gas station and inquired about the location of their facility. The attendant told us that the ladies room was out of service and the men's room door did not lock but we were free to use it. Great! My husband, being the gentlemen that he is, let me use the bathroom first while he stood outside the door making sure no one else walked in.

It was one of those kind of bathrooms that was like a large room, without any doors to the individual stalls. In fact, this bathroom only had one toilet and sink. After I was done, my husband went in and I promptly sat outside the door on the curb and found myself drifting away like a little girl drawing in the sand that was in the parking lot. Maybe I was daydreaming about the wonderful day we just had?

I suddenly saw shadows of legs quickly pass behind me and by the time I got up to stop the shadows, it was too late.. The bathroom door opened and all I saw was my husband in the bathroom in a most embarrassing position with a face of horror while an unsuspecting father and his son walked into the bathroom and closed the door behind them. OH NO!

I ran to my husbands truck and just knew I was in for a very long ride home as I had not done my job well of protecting his privacy. A short while later my husband returned to the truck and just gave me the eyeball through his red face of madness. I had no other words than "I'm Sorry" to express, but that did not impress.

Had I "Paid Attention" this would have never happened, but then again, had I been "Paid" for my attention, maybe I would have stood like a guard in front of the door?

Sometimes it's the little things in life that prove the lasting examples of words. Wouldn't you agree?