Zingers

4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does. *

All my friends had gotten their driver's license when they were in their teens. But me, I was long since an adult in my 20's married and with children. When I arrived to the Bureau Department of Motor Vehicles all grown up and ready to conquer the world, I put my thinking cap on backwards, but smiled with big fake confidence.

Back in the day the drivers tests consisting of a two fold exam:  oral and driving test. An officer in the BMV usually administered them. I was lucky enough to meet with an arrogant officer. And, of course, I acted very composed, mature and mostly dismissed his arrogance even though my stomach twisted into knots.

The officer followed me outside. We buckled ourselves into my grandmothers little car. I maneuvered the cones, parallel parking and stop signs well enough to pass.  Next, the officer escorted me into the office for the final portion of the drivers test. It felt like an interrogation, but I stayed composed. Everything moved along nicely until he asked me to name the X sign. To which I replied, "It's a Zing sign". 

"What?" the officer asked.

"It's a Zing," I repeated.

His laughter felt uncomfortable. But, when it morphed into an endless mad guffaw, I wanted to stick my fist into his gaping mouth. Instead I waited for him to run out of air. Finally he caught his breath  and asked, "What the hec's a zing?"

I thought, "Laughing fool ....and they let officers this clueless administer road tests and carry weapons?"

"Well, it's a crossing," I said.

"Why didn't you call it a crossing then?" he laughed again.

The truth? I always thought an Xing was pronounced Zing. I passed the oral test, but went home feeling stupid and horrified. Who knew Xing really didn't mean Zing? Well, derrr, me for one. And it bothered me for years! Yes, years. Until one day I realized what a silly thing - to harbor a silly thing. My little zinger likely became great fodder for funny stories the officer retold over and over. He probably meant no harm when he laughed, but I took it all wrong.

Have you allowed a silly or insignificant thing to make you feel insecure or stupid?

* Quoted from Regina Brett's 45 life lessons and 5 to grow on