Every November 11th, I visit the SE corner of 8th and State, schedule allowing, and place an item on the sidewalk and stand and think for several moments. A tragedy occurred there that changed my life. 1998, I was substitute teaching as I had left the auto sales industry to pursue what I went to college for, to become a teacher. I was a Wednesday and I hadnt been called that morning. So, I decided, for spiritual and physical health, to take a long walk to a destination and sit and read my Bible, journal, and pray. I had a favorite place to do that and it was a great walking distance. I lived on Holiday Drive. My destination was......... Peter Pan Park. Ive never been an athlete by any stretch of the imagination and the long walk to and fro was a lofty goal for me. But I made preparations anyway. I put on a sweat shirt, ball cap, and a backpack with everything I needed and headed out. By the time I had reached Becker Tire at 6th and Prairie, I was worn out. But I pressed on. I reached my destination in about one and a half hours. I picked a concrete table and bench to sit at and do what I came there to do. After a while, I realized, I hadnt planned this out very well. It took me an hour an a half to get there, it would take at least that long to get back. I had left the house at 10:30, arrived at 12:00. It was about 1:00 and I was starving. So I packed up my things, put my sweatshirt, ball cap, and backpack back on and headed for home. I took a different route this time that would take me by some businesses just in case I wanted to buy something to drink or snack on. By the time I reached 6th avenue, I had some minor biological urges. But they were minor and I decide I would press on to 12th Avenue, where there was a Kwik Shop. Well, I misjudged something. By the time I got halfway through the six hundred block of State street, those biological urges became a full on emergency. I began to think if I knew anyone in the area as I pressed on. The Goff women lived over on Congress, but it was too far away, and I couldnt do that to them. They were like a living version of Little Women. So that was out. My pace slowed in the seven hundred block. My mind was racing. I was a substitute teacher, twenty eight years old. What if students saw me? I reached the corner of Eighth and State and came to a full stop. This....was....happening. On November 11th, 1998, at the corner of Eighth and State,.........I crapped my pants. If that wasnt bad enough, I also wet my pants. For some reason, at the moment, that was worse. Think Jason, THINK!, I told myself. I had to get home I decided to take a detour and head east to Merchant and go to Reebles grocery store. A car honked its horn as it flew by, didnt know it was vocal instructor until a week later. There was a pay phone at the far end of the building and I could call someone to help me. I also figured with the phone being so far away from the entrance to the store, no one would walk right passed me. I figured wrong. As throngs of people walked right passed me, gagging as they headed into the store to somehow manage to buy groceries after walking passed me. I called several people, spoke with many friends, who, to this day, did not know they were speaking to me with a full load in my pants. Including Marilyn Black. I finally decided to call Ryan Lindsey, who was at work, but I knew he could take an extended lunch break. After a long pause and uncontrollable laughter, he told me to go to his mothers house, which was a short distance from the pay phone. I cant do that to Kay! About thirty minutes later, Ryan showed up in the car I had sold him, with plastic covering the passenger seat. Ryan was in such hysterics, he couldnt speak. He drove me home. I turned to face him and pointed at the back of my pants and asked, Can you tell? He could only manage wildly bobbing his head up and down indicating that he could tell. If you find yourself in Emporia in the fall, and happen to drive down State street and notice a roll of toilet paper on the corner of eighth street, you know I was there. You may think I am crazy for telling this story on social media. For Tim Tabors Tabors New and Improved, Amazingly Philosophical, Music to Know You Challenge, 14.Post a song that reminds you of an embarrassing moment in your life. Crazy, by Gnarls Barkley. youtube/watch?v=bd2B6SjMh_w
Posted on: Fri, 24 Oct 2014 20:16:51 +0000
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