Lousy Day

If yesterday wasn't the worst day of my life, it came close.
Left Betty's to get the city bus to the SB Library, where I'd catch the 10:30 SB to Ventura bus--I thought--as I've gotten it there before. Got off and saw the sign said it left at 8:32 and the next one wasn't until 2 something. Took another bus to get to the transit station.
You have to have exact change and I had only two fives--put one in the change machine and it returned four quarters. What the--! Had to get the change and a request for reimbursement form from the clerk, then rush a block away for the bus. Got to Ventura without incident and caught the city number 6 .
Home, I had lunch, then gathered up my props, which include a large basket and other items, for rehearsal. Showered and dressed, then went out to wait for the Access van. No reason to take my umbrella, as the sky was a lovely blue...(ha!).
Uh-huh. Bus came with one other person on it (I was pleased that Ce-Ce, a young woman I've had before, was the driver) and off we went. It seemed to me it was the long way to get to Oxnard, but I was early for 4:30 rehearsal, anyway, so no prob. Unfortunately, it started coming down in sheets during the ride. However, I was dropped off, early, in fact. Saw Connie, others came in and we helped set up chairs in a semi-circle.
There were about 20 attendees, all in costume and looking good. Connie introduced herself, then me, saying I taught acting to adults, and would be helping her critique. I was sitting near the end of the semi-circle and was pleased I had remembered to turn off my phone. I was also glad to see the wall clock almost directly opposite me, so I could keep tabs on the time (the van was scheduled to pick me up at 6:00).
Participants went on one-by-one, with Connie and me occasionally mentioning some suggestions to improve. About half--maybe more--read their scripts; I, of course, already knew mine, although I hadn't had time over the last four days to rehearse. When it was finally time for me to do my little shtick, I confidently got up with my basket and said "Who-dan-dach, (goodday), I am Anke (Un-ja) DeJong (Deyawl)..."
...and the rest of my talk went completely out of my head. Was I embarrassed? More than I've been in years. However, I apologized, explained I'd had a stressful week, and sat down. I know I'll retain it for the actual event, but boy, I wanted to crawl under the rug.
 By the time we finished, the clock on the wall said ten of six, but that was okay--the van would be waiting. But it wasn't.  Looked at my phone and saw I had had a text, telling me it would be there in 14 minutes--but this was sent about 5:45 when my phone was off.  I now realized not only had I failed to see  it, but it was 6:40; clearly, the museum clock was wrong. So there I was, in the dark and rain, without a ride home.  However, that didn't worry me; I knew somebody was probably going to Ventura and, if worse came to worst, I could call Uber or Lyft. It turned out that my friend, Lynn, from Dudley House, was about to drive off and offered to drive me home.  I accepted, but on the way, decided to join the widder group for our regular monthly dinner at Stone Fire Grille, so I could give them flyers about the Art Comes Alive thing. I knew somebody would drive me home from there. Lynn dropped me off, drove away, I went in, and--
--my group wasn't there. I called Nancy and she said it had been our lunch gathering, not dinner. Oh, great, and now it had started to pour, again.  I was dressed in my long-skirted fisher wife outfit and was carrying a large basket with artificial fish in it.
Yeah, it should have been funny, but somehow, I failed to see the human, as it was now after 7:00, teeming rain, and I was exhausted. I started out to get the bus, but couldn't face it, knowing I and my props would be drenched by the time I took two buses, then walked two and a half blocks to get home. I finally called Suzanne--if there is a god, she'll sit on his right hand, if not in his lap--and she came out and picked me up.
One last thing: After I had settled in with Frazier, I realized my purse wasn't with me. Searched frantically, then had to tap on Suzanne's door and ask her to look in her car. She went out and found I had left it there.
Okay, now I have to get ready for my doctor's appointment at 7:15. Today has GOT to be better than yesterday!