You accidentally sprayed your audience with saliva while talking: WHAT TO DO?

Philippines
February 3, 2011 5:58pm CST
Wow, this is really embarrassing. Earlier at work, my boss was coaching me on the action plan that me and my team needed to follow to improve our work performance. Then something so bizarre happened. It never happened to me before. And of all people, it had to be my boss! When I opened my mouth to talk to him, I accidentally sprayed saliva on his shirt. Not that much though but STILL! HELLO? I was so embarrassed, and my boss started laughing when he saw me blushed to the roots of my hair. Anyway, I just kept on apologizing. I actually panicked and grabbed a Kleenex from my pocket and hastily wiped his shirt. Nothing changed though. Like, duh, as if the spot will automatically go dry. But hey, at least I apologized and tried. My boss was fine with it though, although I could not forget the expression of his face when he saw the spray. He probably thought I was some klutz or something. Moving forward... I should just forget about it. What do you usually do if that happened to you?
3 people like this
17 responses
@bounce58 (17385)
• Canada
9 Feb 11
If this were to happen to me, my initial thought would be to forget about it. Of course, I would still go through the awkward moment of similar to what you did. To try and wipe it off, and to apologize to the max. But after that I would try and completely erase it from my mind. I wouldn't even post a discussion about it here in myLot!
• United States
5 Feb 11
Hindsight I would say lol, but truly if it happened to me I would be exactly as you. I would be so embarrassed and in fact it would linger on for days, weeks as I would be so ashamed. It is not something out of this world and it can happen, thankfully your boss was a good sport as most would have probably been upset.
@minnie15 (143)
• United States
4 Feb 11
Probably the same thing you did. :-) It is pretty funny. Don't dwell on this. These things happen and we laugh and we just move on. I can see myself doing that. :-) You gave me my morning chuckle.
@ybong007 (6643)
• Philippines
4 Feb 11
Well if it's just any of your friends then that's fine but the boss well...I'm sure you'll get over the guilty feeling sooner or later. I'm sure everyone will talk about it but time heals everything, including guilty feelings. . Just move on and pretend as if nothing happened. people will eventually forget about it.
• Philippines
4 Feb 11
make the sign of the cross and say "the mass is ended you may now go in peace" hehehe that way they can go wipe it off without having to excuse themselves
• Philippines
4 Feb 11
This post is hilarious, but there's nothing you can do more than apologize and live with it. What has been seen... cannot be unseen!
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
4 Feb 11
(laugh) Say "excuse me" and then hand them a napkin...
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
4 Feb 11
What can I say...Stuff happens! I remember hearing about how waitresses always used to say "we appreciate you patronage" or something like that. It is not unusual to "spray" when you make a "p" sound. I'm sure there are other instances where this could happen. I think it is not a big problem. If he wasn't upset, I wouldn't worry about it. Like you say, you should just forget about it. I know it is embarrassing, but life goes on. Hopefully it doesn't happen again...at least not with the boss. Maybe to your worst enemy, but not the boss. It will be a better day. Take care!
@beamer88 (4259)
• Philippines
4 Feb 11
Boy, am I glad I have never been in that kind of a situation :) But yes, just forget about it and move on. Everybody had their laugh anyway :)
@sender621 (14893)
• United States
4 Feb 11
I would probably try to make a joke out of it. what do you do with something so embarrassing? The more you can make light of it and brush it off, the sooner it will become forgotten.
@cadguy08 (1224)
• Canada
4 Feb 11
I was laughing so much about your story , but you asked sorry right that's not really bad at all. Your Boss was looking at you he maybe saying by himself oh wow what a pretty gals with bursting with rain just kidding dear. But anyways just be your own self . Your lucky if your Boss was looking at you and his mouth is open ouch then it went into his mouth that's very embarrasing right .
@nishant5n (1067)
• India
4 Feb 11
Drooling is very embarrassing. It can be even more embarrassing when you are trying to carry on a conversation and you find the saliva literally pouring out of your mouth. This situation is extremely embarrassing when it projects out onto other person. It happens generally due to hormonal imbalances in your body. It is also caused when you have something in your mouth, e.g., gum, mint, or braces. Keeping gum and mints in your mouth makes your body to produce more saliva. In such conditions, I would apologize and will definitely offer my handkerchief to the person.
@naija4real (1291)
4 Feb 11
You have to apologise to your boss. But the expression on your face must show true sign of remorse or regrets. Avoid laughing as that will send the wrong picture. I think if you apologise in words and your facial expression also does the same that will melt the heart of your boss and the issue will be forgotten almost instantly.
• United States
4 Feb 11
You can apologize, I know this is really annoying but this may be the best course of action
@eurekafemme (5876)
• Philippines
4 Feb 11
Opps! Sorry but I couldn't help laughing . If I were in your shoes ,well, I could have acted the same. I'll be embarrassed to the bone. Not my boss please....lol But accidents do happen and when they do happen we can never choose who the victims are going to be. Apologizing is good enough. Since you can not do anything further. (You can take off his shirt and replace it with a new one, wash the saliva stained one after. But, I know this is impossible.) You acted naturally. At least, you acknowledge such silly mess. It'll be worse if yo pretended you did not notice it. I don't think your boss will take it against you. It was just a drop, for Pete's sake.
@gloryacam (5540)
• Philippines
4 Feb 11
I'd die of embarrassment? Kidding! Well, you will have to learn and live with the embarrassing memory for a while. But, hey, that's normal because we're human. At some point, I have experienced that, too, but I don't really remember the events clearly now, just vaguely. But, this reminds me of when I was in high school. During my Junior year, I was seated at the very front of the class and people usually teased me to "bring an umbrella to class". One of our teachers kept spraying on me! And, that was an everyday class!! But, I think about it now, and I don't have anything against her. (Sadly, she passed away last year. May she rest in peace.)
@12mpetru (45)
• United States
4 Feb 11
If this happen to me i would goo to him and ask him if there is any thing to do to make up of what you did. ex: run an errand for him, shovel his driveway i dont know anything would work anything i guess. Well i hope this helped alot