Fire Alarm Faux Pas
We had been dating for almost a year and things were going great. While I had met his parents numerous times, I had recently been invited to join them on their summer vacation and I couldn’t have been more excited for a few days of fun in the sun.
We made our way to Myrtle Beach and I immediately set myself up by the pool, pina colada in hand. It was going to be a good weekend.
The first few days went off without a hitch. I bonded with his parents over dinner and poolside conversations while finally getting some relaxation for myself after the first six months of a new job. I couldn’t have been happier.
On our last day, I was left alone while the men played golf and his mother shopped. I set myself by the pool for a long day of baking. After a few hours, I decided to make my way upstairs for a shower to get ready for our last meal on vacation.
I hop into the shower, letting the warm water wash away the day of sun, sweat and suntan lotion. I hear the noise in the background but choose to ignore it, telling myself that it’s only the television. A few minutes later, I turn off the water, only to realize that what I was hearing was not the television but the hotel’s fire alarm screaming through the hallways.
Crap.
I wrap myself in a towel to go peek outside the door. I’m soaking wet and don’t want to go downstairs. This used to happen all the time in my college dorm rooms. Most of the students wouldn’t leave, knowing it was just a false alarm but I knew I had to make sure.
I slowly open the door and take a look outside. No one is around. I hear voices over the railing and step further into the hallway. I peer over the railing into the parking lot, seeing all the guests milling about when I hear the click of the door closing behind me.
I know immediately that it’s locked and that I’m standing outside, in my birthday suit save for a very small towel, with a building possibly burning down around me.
I think to myself, “I’ve had a good life”, knowing that there is no way in hell I am going downstairs in a towel. I back up to the wall and close my eyes, willing the door to unlock itself. It won’t budge. I know what I have to do. I make my way to the stairwell to begin the long, humiliating walk down to the parking lot.
Suddenly, I hear footsteps. I panic, imagining firefighters storming the hallway and finding me naked, huddled in the corner. I pause, waiting for the person to be revealed.
I have never seen such a beautiful sight than the hotel manager turning the corner and seeing me standing there. She immediately bursts out laughing, pulls out a set of keys and asks what room she needs to open.
I finally let out the breath that I hadn’t even realized I’d been holding in.
* * * * *
It’s been almost five years since this happened to me and while we’re still dating and his parents appear to like me, they never give up a chance to tell this story.
Whoops…
Yeah … not my best moment. I was still blonde then.
Ha!
Ugh, I don’t know which way to go with my comments so I’m going to just pass for now.
Don? Speechless? Or just trying not to be too crass for once? I’m impressed.
You never know what to say when hot chicks are involved!
This reminds me of the time I was trying to be sexy for my boyfriend and snuck into his apartment wearing nothing but a smile. He got home and stuck his head in the door and said, “honey, my mom’s here.”
It’s good that blogging came around so we have stories to tell.
Oh my! That story beats mine .. Haha — I would have just died right then and there.
hahahah, I got a robe real quick like
Oh boy, that is probably the kind of story you mention when you come by the “Most Embarrassing Moment” question in a slam book as a kid. I should say you were brave.
Hah! I was terrified … The whole time, his mother is running around trying to find me and freaking out that she can’t. When she finally saw me with a towel wrapped around my head though, she had a good laugh…
Ahahaha…..I wish I could be little more sympathising on your plight through all my giggles. 😀
You are one lucky woman! What are the chances a hotel manager would stroll by? Wow, fun story!
I know! I was probably a floor away from walking outside too. She couldn’t have come at a better time. I’ve never been happier! Haha
In that moment, that hotel manager was your best friend. This is the kind of story you read about and say things like “that can’t be true!” Sorry this happened to you, but also glad you can laugh about it all these years later.
It seems like something out of a movie and I’d probably forget about it if his dang family wouldn’t keep bringing it up! They think it’s quite hilarious 🙂
That is a great story, love it!
I’m glad everyone else can enjoy it as much as I did not!
Well, it could have been worse…you could have forgotten the towel, ha, ha!
Hah! Way to put a positive spin on it!!
Sounds like a bitter moment to me. Yeah I went there.
Very bitter indeed…..
Don’t you love when people have embarrassing stories to tell about you? Ugh! How lucky that the hotel manager came around when she did. I can’t believe she laughed, but reading the story now, it is funny 🙂
Yeah, it didn’t take me too long to start laughing about it, probably since it worked out okay in the end. I hate to think what would have happened if I hadn’t run into her.
OMG if I knew you I dont know if I could stop telling the story either. ALthough if it were me no one but me and the manager would have ever been told…she would have been threatened into secrecy! Actually Id probably tell it more! C’mon …its a fabulous story! Glad you guys are still together!
Haha — Thanks! Well, his Mom was actually back at the hotel by then and had been searching for me. She actually started freaking out because she couldn’t find me so when I showed up downstairs (clothed) with a towel wrapped around my hair, she knew immediately what had happened and I couldn’t help telling the story 🙂
Just think: The towel could have gotten caught in the door
OH MY GOD I’d never thought about that … I was far enough away from the door when it closed but … I can’t even think about that.
Wow! I would have been so mortified!! I’m glad it all worked out and that you were safe after all 😀
Hah! Thanks — I was definitely quite embarrassed for awhile but his family found it so hilarious that I eventually just had to laugh at myself!
Oh my God…this is hysterical! And its so true that one learns to ignore those fire alarms in college. If you had to go down to that parking lot, I would have died right along with you.
Haha — I’m really glad people are getting a kick out of it. I’d completely forgotten about it until last Tuesday when, of course, we were out to dinner with his family and someone brought it up!
I’m never going to live this down! 🙂
Love it. You are extremely lucky to have happened upon a woman with a master set of keys. Otherwise . . . well, the fire wouldn’t have been the only hot thing that the crowd would be gazing upon.
HAH! I probably would have just stayed in the stairwell and cried! I don’t know what I would have done if I hadn’t run into her!
Oh man! My worst nightmare, made real in this story!!!
Hah! It was pretty horrible but at least I can laugh about it now!
Hmm.. This is really awkward. My first time here and this is what i am greeted with. I didn’t want to laugh but I did. At least you had a towel right?
Haha — It’s fine! I’m glad people are getting laughs out of it because I certainly did not! However, I’m learning to laugh about it … slowly
That must have been awful!! Thank goodness the manager came around quickly though!
I don’t know what I would have done if she hadn’t!!
“Well, I’ve had a good life.”
Hahahaha…best line.
I was definitely contemplating ‘going down with the ship’ that day!
That’s a great story… you know when it happens to someone else! Sounds like you handled it very well. And I’m glad you didn’t have to go out into the parking lot. Nope- you’ll never live it down. 🙂
Haha thanks! At least I can laugh about it now. It was quite mortifying at the time!
Congrats, I enjoyed your post.
Thanks for reading!