Girly wuss

"You want me to get the spider?"
This was my opening gambit this morning as I walked into the Nissan garage, where 3 men were standing with fliers, trying to guide a penny sized spider - including legs - to the door (which was a good 20 feet away.) (At least I think it was 20 feet. If I'm honest I don't have the faintest idea.)

I'm a girly kind of girl. Love pretty things. Shopping. Shoes. Pink. But when it comes to dealing with a 'man' situation (cars, garages, tool shops), I don't like looking stupid. I think the men will laugh at me, point at me, slap their thighs, pat each other on the backs whilst choking, and all because it took me a minute to park my car. (It didn't but I'm just saying.)

I don't know why I'm like this. I used to fancy myself as a tomboy kind of a girl. I'd play with my younger brother and his friends. We'd go out on our skateboards to the lane where we'd whizz down the hill and stop just before the road. Ok so the hill was gentle, the road wasn't busy and I used to sit on the skateboard (which was my brothers reject,) never stand. Too scary. And all whilst wearing a skirt. So no, not really a tomboy. But I did say I 'fancied' myself as one, not that I was.

I used to work in a very man dominated sound studio as a foley editor. I enjoyed the job but every single bloke I worked with had technical brains on them. I most definitely did not. (And still do not, FYI.) One time a Pro Tools reseller spent the day with us, demo-ing the latest kit. I sat there and played an alphabet game in my head, doing anything to numb the boredom. There was a natural pause after a few hours and I said "yes, but does it come in pink?" My colleagues laughed (in a good way) and I was allowed to leave the room. (And yes, it did.)

Anyway, I walked into the garage and was met with the spider scene. So my automatic reaction was nervous, seeing all these blokes. But my brave-o-meter kicked in and I volunteered to get the spider. One bloke looked particularly grateful but thankfully a burly chap removed it before I had a chance. I like to think i would have calmly scooped it up in my hands and glided to the door but I totally would have screamed and dropped it down my dress. (But THEY don't know that now do they?)