Dear Mr. Right: Crisis of Closure (and confidence)

Mr. Right,

I recently found myself at my in-laws’ beach house for my birthday. A friend and I were having a good time when, unexpectedly, I clogged the downstairs toilet in the laundry room. This wasn’t just a simple issue; it felt like an all-out plumbing emergency. As soon as I flushed, all chaos broke loose. The water surged up, threatening to overflow like a scene from a muddy river in Mumbai. I spent nearly three hours battling the situation, trying to fix and clean up the mess, but nothing worked. I ended up doing some truly cringe-worthy things. The next day, my father-in-law had to take over, but ultimately, he called a plumber. Honestly, it was one of the most embarrassing moments I’ve experienced. How do I move past this? Do I need a lawyer or maybe a PR team? Help!

– Jack of North Carolina

Dear Jack,

Thanks for sharing your predicament so vividly. I can only imagine how mortifying it must have been.

First off, take a deep breath. It’s important to let go of that embarrassment, much like flushing away the trouble of a clogged toilet. And don’t be too hard on yourself; perhaps the pipe was already an issue before you got there, or maybe the timing just wasn’t right for you.

Sure, it’s awkward, but it’s also somewhat funny. As odd as it sounds, I’ve learned that some of my cringiest moments have become great stories to tell later. Life has a funny way of turning mishaps into comedy—you just have to give it time.