Flushed

I went to another training session at work earlier this week to learn about the company’s stance on Electrical Hazards and how to protect workers from such. Everyone out where I work is required to take this class sometime, so I thought best to schedule mine for the week before Christmas. We had a big meeting room and had a substantial amount of workers there (considering most folks had already left on vacations). The instructor of this course is an older gentleman who had to wear a microphone in order to give his presentation to the masses. Occasionally he would call a break to go make us more coffee or have to run out to make copies of missing pages. Unbeknownst to him, whenever he left the room he forgot to turn the microphone off and those who remained in the room during the breaks would suddenly hear half conversations with this guy talking. You couldn’t hear whomever he was talking to, just his responses.

During one break, I was sitting at the table listening to some guys discuss types of protective equipment changes to make when suddenly we hear the sound of a toilet flush coming in loud and clear over the speakers. I catch co-worker’s eye and we both look at each other with that “Did-I-just-hear-what-I-think-I-heard” expression. And then, sure enough I hear a faucet running as the man washes his hands (imagine if we didn’t hear a faucet running?). Just as I’m deciding whether to laugh or wear a disturbed expression, the man starts humming to himself. I couldn’t resist anymore and started laughing. This was too great of a show to miss and soon all conversations die in the room as we all listen in on our instructor as he started in on another half-heard conversation. Someone eventually told him that his microphone was still on before the break ended, and he promptly switched it off.

This reminds me of a story I heard while doing the Boar’s Head at my church this year. A couple years ago, a lady had just come off stage and really had to go to the bathroom. I emphasize really here because she enlisted the help of her husband to help her out of her costume to use the toilet. Unfortunately for her, she was still wearing her microphone and the sound board operators had forgotten to turn it off. All I can say from what I heard is that there are certain moments, certain conversations in life that should not be broadcast over an audience of any kind, much less a church audience. Especially when it’s between those as intimate as a husband and wife.

So in life, be careful what you say or do, because you never know who might be listening in.