My experience on the shuttle bus didn’t begin to revive me until I began to share it with others. Until it was given form in the retelling, it was mostly embarrassing and awkward, and I would have preferred to pretend it didn’t happen. The retelling allowed me to see the shuttle ride from the outside. I watched the faces of those listening to me, and I was able to join with them in responding with distress and a good laugh. It was in the sharing that it moved from awkwardness and shame to awkwardness and funny. The burden was lifted just a bit as levity infused the experience.
