I consider myself to be of average intelligence, perhaps even a tad over the far side of the bell curve. But sometimes I'm just not paying attention.I recently needed to reserve a conference room at the local library. Being the sort of guy who prefers taking the easy course of action with any task, I looked up the library web site to find the conference room schedule; it wasn't posted online. However, while paging through the library web site, clearly posted on the main page was an announcement that the library would be closed on the 21st for a library staff meeting.
Unable to find the library conference room schedule on their web site, I decided to stop in at the library and inquire in person; I had to run some other errands so it was no inconvenience to drop in there.
When I arrived at the library I was pleasantly surprised to find that there were plenty of available parking spaces in front of the building. I had no trouble finding a parking place.
I casually noticed one of those orange and white striped construction barrier sawhorse thingies in front of the steps leading up to the building. There was a sign on it, but I just assumed that they were blocking off the steps for some construction. Behind the barrier on the steps were a bunch of high school, maybe junior high school, kids milling around on the steps jostling each other and talking trash. I figured there was some event happening and the sign on the sawhorse was somehow related. So I skirted the barrier and the kids and strolled up the handicapped ramp to the library front door.
I pulled on the library front door and... nothing. It was securely locked. I peered inside; the library was dark. It was then that I stepped back and noticed the sign... the one taped to the door clearly stating that the library would be closed on the 21st for a library staff meeting. I opened my cell phone to check the date: April 21st.
Suddenly this eerie feeling came over me that I was the focus of attention; turning to leave I distinctly sensed that my intellect was being most brutally judged by countless pairs of unyielding adolescent eyes. I walked past the horde and around the construction barrier on which a "Library Closed " sign was neatly affixed.
The kids didn't need to say a word... I looked like a complete idiot!!
On the drive home I wondered just how much stupidity in the world might be the result of just simply not paying attention.
