I got a call from the State Department of Revenue telling me that I had been selected for an interview for a part-time job with the State as a "Tax Specialist."  Some of my background includes stints where I had a hand in tax preparation, working with State regulations, and dealing with the public, so naturally, I seemed like a good fit for this job.

The morning of the interview came and I realized an hour before I was supposed to be there that I had booked myself for a dental appointment at the same time as the interview.  I flipped a coin and determined that it was more important to make the job interview, so I called the dental office and informed them via voice mail that I could not make my appointment and I apologized for giving them less than 24 hours notice which insured that I would be charged for the missed appointment.  Oh well.

I tore off my pajamas, jumped (literally) into the shower, scrubbed the most important parts, rinsed and dried off and tore through the closet trying to find something to wear that looked even a little bit professional, slapped on my basic emergency makeup which consists of blush, mascara and lip gloss, ran down the stairs and missed the bus!  That's oki - I'll ride my handy dandy trike and save some gas in the process.  I raced around to the back yard, unlocked the trike, put on my helmet over my carefully ponytailed hairdo and pedaled like never before in an effort to make the appointment on time.

When I got halfway to the State Office Building, it started to rain a little - no sweat - it's only water - not carbolic acid or anything - it's good for my skin right?  As I'm accepting the rain, my right pants leg gets caught in the chain.  I had not anticipated this.  I stopped before I tore the fabric and freed my pants leg, wrapped the excess fabric from both pants legs around my ankles and stuffed it into my socks to be held securely in place.  I still had time to make it.

When I got to the State Office Building I discovered that they had removed the bike rack that used to be on that side of the building, so I had to drag my trike up the steps to a rail where I could lock the trike so it wouldn't be stolen while I was interviewing.  I got the trike secured, raced to the stairwell thinking it would be faster than waiting for the elevator.  I'm still on time I think!  I make it to the second floor and calm myself before walking to the counter to announce myself.  Just as the receptionist comes to the counter to find out why I'm there, the right lens of my glasses falls out and lands on the counter.  We both stare at it for a moment before I reach into my bag for my box of little tiny screwdrivers that I keep in the "tool pocket" of my purse and proceed to put my glasses back together while the receptionist asks if I need any help.  I tell her that I have it under control!

Immediately after I put the tools away, a gentleman appears and introduces himself to me.  I hold out my hand to shake his and he brings out his hand, which is missing two or three fingers and I shake it as though I don't notice.  He guides me to the interview office which is a glassed in room visible to everyone in the reception area.  Another gentleman joins us and introduces himself and we make ourselves comfortable.

It seemed to me that this interview was one of the best I had ever handled!  They seemed delighted to have met me and when I left the interview room, my confidence was riding high!  I walked proudly past the four other people seated in the reception area who were waiting for their interviews.  Then I took the elevator up to the third floor, where I used to work, to visit some of my old coworkers.  They made me feel even better!  They were surprised and happy to see me and we laughed and hugged and they asked me what I was doing there.

I told them about my morning trying to make it to the interview on time, and when I got to the part where my pants got stuck in the chain, we all looked down at my trouser bottoms to discover that they were still wrapped around my ankles and crammed into my socks!

My dismay was palpable!  Of course we all laughed at my foibles and I tried to imagine what those people waiting for their interviews must have thought of the older woman leaving the interview room with a big smile on her face and her pants crammed into her socks!  New fashion statement?  I think not!

Needless to say, I was NOT offered the job and it may be just as well.  The Universe works in strange ways sometimes!  It may have been trying to tell me all along that this was not the job for me!