This funny happening, happened several years ago – and still makes me laugh.
I went to my local House of Fine Art (HOFA) store for some Alizarin, Crimson artists’ oil paint.
At the time of this humorous occurrence, I was a frequent visitor to this fine little art store.
The owner was the president of our city’s Abbotsford Arts Council.
As I was paying for my tube of Alizarin, Crimson oil paint, he invited me to come to the Abbotsford Arts Council (AAC) AGM meeting that evening.
He said, “tonight“, and wrote down the details on the back of his business card.
He also asked if I would consider being on the board and naturally I asked, ” What do I have to do to be part of this elite group?”
“Just come to meetings once a month,” He said. “The AAC is part of the city’s planning and direction for the arts, and supports the many art groups in the community with their projects.”
My response – “I can do that – that sounds like something I would actually like to do.”
I grabbed my receipt, tucked my purchase into my purse and made my way to the door. As I left he said, “See you tonight at the Kariton House.”
6:56 PM I arrived at the Kariton House where I was greeted by someone I didn’t know – I looked for Mr. HOFA but he was nowhere to be seen, so I assumed that this someone else was covering for him. Funny, I don’t recognize anybody.
The ‘leader’ asked, “Are you a new member” and I said, “Not really – I’ve been a member for a while now but this is my first meeting.”
“Well, what do I know,” he answered, looking somewhat puzzled. Then he said that I would be pleased to know that on Saturday they were going on an outing, somewhere up past the city of Hope into the mountains.
Stunned that I knew nothing about outings, I responded by saying, “I didn’t know you do outings. That’s interesting.”
“Oh yes”, he answered, “that’s what we are all about.”
I pondered that for awhile thinking, “Mr. HOFA never mentioned any outings. That sounds a lot more involved than one meeting per month.”
I know…you see it coming, but my lightening fast mind still hadn’t put the pieces together.
Here’s how the rest of that evening went:
The meeting starts and I look at the agenda. It is then that I realized – I am in the wrong meeting!
To my chagrin, I am in an Abbotsford Rock and Gem Club meeting. That explains those chunks of rocks on the table and that rock chart taped to the side of it! LOL
I must admit, my first emotion – embarrassment, but that changes very quickly. No need for embarrassment, I tell myself. This moment is just too humorous to be wasted on embarrassment.
So I speak up at the first opportune moment (actually I butt in and have to be put in order) and I address the group – saying” Please excuse me. You can all have a good laugh at this.” ¦(I take a deep breath) “You see” and I explain myself.
The room is awkwardly quiet for what seems like an awfully long moment. Then thankfully everyone begins to laugh, after which a few sympathetic individuals try to unsuccessfully entice me to stay to become one of the rockin’ Rock and Gem Club enthusiasts. I insisted that I must find that Abbotsford Arts Council meeting. One individual asked, “The Abbotsford Arts” who?
At that point, I realize this meeting is just not going to happen for me, at least not tonight.
Confused, but still in good humor, I take my leave and make my way back home.
As it turns out I would still have the opportunity to attend this very important meeting – the next day.
I suppose I could have double checked and consulted my latest “Eye on the Arts” newsletter for meeting dates before leaving my house instead of after I got back.
But then I would have missed out on a funny memory worth remembering – and a a funny story worth telling.
You can find me on Facebook here: – Carrie Wachsmann – Storyteller
& here: Roadblocks to Hell – book