by Donna Mccay

Created on: November 01, 2008

Whoops! I am not electronically inclined like others and when I mess up I do it real big! A box recorder with many buttons and I had no clue which one to press. This put me in a real scary situation. I wanted to do my best and get a very good recording for my husband and others to listen to later.

I was attending a Manchester Choral Concert in an ornate Catholic Church. My husband asked me to record the concert while he sang. Of course I had to sit up front and act very dignified. Sitting directly in front of me was our former choral director and his lovely wife.

The recording machine was on a box sitting on the pew and had many buttons to push. My husband repeatedly rehearsed which button I was to push and when to stop for intermission. And I totally assured him I knew just what to do. So off he went to practice and then line up for their big entrance.

The Manchester choral group marched in and stood up in a balcony in the back of the church. Their voices filled the atmosphere with sweet harmony sending shivers up and down our spines. The audience loved the songs and clapped after each song as they were so uplifted.

Intermission had come and they were marching out so I pushed a button thinking it was the right one. All of a sudden I was replaying their practice prior to the concert. I didn't know what to do. I had no clue which button to press. I felt myself getting hot and sweaty as I wasso stressed out.

The former director who was sitting in front of me turns around and says, "We can hear it!"

I was so embarrassed! I said, I know and I don't know what to do! For Petesake I was shown what to do. My husband said it was very easy and I would have no problems.

The former director was no help so sat there with his back to me. They were embarassed too I think.

My face was getting very red and everyone was wondering where the sound was coming from. Only the people that sat close to me could figure it out. I wish I knew what to do. It was so very frustrating to me. Everyone was glaring at me and I was becoming very subconscious about it now.

Thank God! I saw my husband was on his way and had decided to check on how I was doing. He quickly showed me which button I should have chosen. He then went over everything again.

It was the power button I should have pressed. But I thought that would stop the recording and not be able to record the second half of their singing. I should have known.

That was the last time my husband asked me to ever record anything again. He always found someone to do it for him. Man, was I ever relieved.

I can laugh about it now but it sure wasn't funny when it was happening. Embarrassing moments are unforgetable and will be talked about for years.

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