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We all have our moments when our brain shuts down, and we do stupid things. We’re talking about those most embarrassing moments that stay with you forever. The ones you play out in your mind over and over again when you’re lying awake in bed at 2 a.m., fighting the thought that the person who witnessed your silly actions might still remember them.

Well, we have good news for you. Even if they do, they’re probably too busy stressing over their own embarrassing moments in public to think about yours. And there’s even a thread on X (formerly Twitter) that perfectly illustrates this point.

In the post, a woman confessed to the internet about the time she accidentally attempted to steal a man’s food. While he was holding it!

As the thread went viral, people began relating to it and sharing similar embarrassing stories. We compiled the most embarrassing moments people admitted to, hoping they will help you to accept your own shortcomings and move on. Nobody's perfect!

A Study on Awkward Situations and How to Deal With Them

According to Susan Krauss Whitbourne, Ph.D., ABPP, a Professor Emerita of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, whether you’re a repeat offender or only occasionally find yourself in awkward situations, it’s helpful to know how to navigate and recover from embarrassment.

Fortunately, there’s a study by John Jay College professor Joshua Clegg that provides some guidance on how to battle these unforgettable embarrassing moments.

“Defining socially awkward situations as ‘problematic instances of social affiliation,’ Clegg bases his work on the theory that most people have a need to belong,” Whitbourne explained. “This desire for affiliation leads us to engage in self-regulation, in which we are constantly on the lookout to see what other people think about us. When we think that people are evaluating us negatively, our sense of self takes a huge hit.”

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Thomas Jones
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Advantage of not buying nondescript cars: mine's a metallic violet convertible and wife's is a chili-red Mini countryman. No one's accidentally getting into the wrong car.

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Zach Thomson
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's okay I had something similar to the story happened once when my dad parked his car with me and my brother and sister all in it and went into the store a few minutes later girl came out got in a car when to try to start it and when it wouldn't start I spoke up and said oh yeah I don't think you're in the right car scared her and she jumps all three of us went no no I'm not they got out and got into her car that was right next to us

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Annie Bieber
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There are 8 Blue CRV's of same year in our town of 1k...came out of the store & couldn't figure out why my door wouldn't unlock so I stuck the key in. Hearing laughter behind me I see our local Deputy losing it as his wife is 50 Shade of Terrified 😳 in the passenger seat of THEIR car...

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ramada rose
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That happened to my Dad when I was a teenager and we were living in Austin. He pulled up to the front of H.E.B. at Hancock Center and ran in for something while Mom and I waited in the car. Dad was an Episcopal seminarian and was wearing his black suit and white collar. He came out and got into a similar-looking car parked in front of us, and we watched as a teenager boy shot out of the back seat and ran off with my Dad calling out he was sorry! I laughed my head off!!!

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Chris Harr
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I did the exact same thing one time with two black jeep wranglers. The lady and her kids were rather shocked and my boyfriend thought it was absolutely hilarious.

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Id row
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I did this when I was 16. My dad was picking me up from the mall and had a quite a distinctive model of car I never saw anyone else have so I didn't think twice when I saw it pull up to the curb as I was waiting outside. I got in, started chatting away while I was looking in my purse. Then noticed we weren't moving so I went to ask my dad why - and it wasn't my dad. I apologized and got out very quickly!

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Phyzzi
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Was in a parking lot with my kid, at a "stop" sign, and a guy jumps in our car, says "you're not my brother" and jumps back out. Yes, we have a grey SUVan

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K Witmer
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Omg I've done this. My sil got a new car all the new gray/silver hatch backs look exactly the same. Idk how people can tell them apart. I tried two different cars before I found hers. One car was unlocked I sat in it but it was filled w stuff and I jumped out real quick.

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Higgleton
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I did that once. Was hitch hiking and guy pulled up in the lay-by. He was on the phone when I got in the back seat so I waited quietly for him to finish. We meet eyes in the rear view mirror and he jumps out his skin! turns out he'd only pulled over to take a call. In the end, he said he'd be happy to give me a lift since I hadn't killed him. Was pretty funny.

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Katie Lutesinger
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The adult equivalent of grabbing the wrong grown-up's leg at the supermarket.

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Larry Whalen
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Been there - kind of done that when I and my three children came out of the grocery store and got into our New Dodge Colt mini-van to drive home - problem was my key would not fit the ignition ! And the bigger problem was IT WAS NOT OUR CAR ! The lady that owned it and her friend were laughing so hard they couldn't let me know that my car was two cars over, same year - same color BTW, And YES, I was Embarrassed, especially when my children got in on the 'joke'.

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Dana Ondráčková
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As kid I slid my Hand ito my moms Hand or hold my moms cart while shopping only to find I was holding some random lady who was smiling ať me while my mom quietly stood aside, waiting for me realise the error

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kat lia
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Happened long time ago before celphone-era, me and my friends are heading home riding a bus. At the rest stop, one of my friend went to the restroom last minute. The bus is about to leave so we told the driver that our friend is still at the restroom. We saw her went out from the restroom and entered the wrong bus, so the three called her screaming her name because that certain bus that she was on was already moving. And all of the passengers at our bus were also calling her name and cheering on her as she entered at our bus. She was so red.

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Teddybear
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One time my sister and her friend both went into a random persons car. It was pretty dark outside, so I Understand that. Thankfully no one was in the car. Yeah thats it bye.

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John Carr
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Came out of the shop (rural Ireland, where nobody locks their cars) and got into "my" car. Key wouldn't go into the ignition. Happened to glance out the drivers window.....someone had broken my wing mirror. Owner of the car standing at the shop door laughing his a**e off at me....

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Wise beauty
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One time we were on a car trip and I go to the bathroom when I go back out I try to open the door to our car, start knocking on the window for my brothers to let me in (since my mom and dad were still in the gas station) I actually looked in the window and it wasn’t my brothers, it was two little kids looking up at me like they thought they were about to get kidnapped (which they probably did think that) I turn around and my brothers are watching the whole thing go down in our car. Omg I was so freaking embarrassed

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Agentblackbetty
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I couldn't help but spit my drink out laughing hysterically on this excellent encounter.

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Mud spider
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I once accidentally walked into the wrong apartment. I thought either she didn’t notice me or knew it was an accident. I just walked in then walked out 2 seconds later. (About a month later I realized she didn’t notice bcuz she was blind lol)

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Gracie Mae
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One of the 1st times I'd been out with my sister in a while, not paying attention to her vehicle, only that it was a white suv. Every time we headed back to her car, I just followed like a little puppy. We leave a store & she heads over to the driver's side of the first white vehicle outside the store. I go to the passenger side, open the back door & start loading up my bags. About a minute later, she comes around the back of the suv, with surprise in her voice (that's a couple of octaves higher, too) & exclaims "WHAT ARE YOU DOING???" I calmly told her I was loading my packages & by now she's pretty much rotflhao, trying to tell me that it's not her vehicle! Of course, at that point we're BOTH rolling & I'm grabbing my stuff out of a stranger's car. I went back in & asked who drove the white suv parked right outside (smallish store, not many customers) and explained what happened, all the while lmao--I was just afraid there cameras & they'd think I was stealing stuff!

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Kelly Jo
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My mom did this at the grocery store, even after putting groceries in the back.

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Lisa Edwardsen
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm way too embarrassed to reveal how many times this happened to me. I've got horrendous eyesight and to me, one white car looks the same as the next. Well, except for the white police car I jumped into one day, thinking it was my friends white car. No, I did NOT notice the decals, light bar on roof or the barrage of police equipment on the dashboard. Lol

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Nikole
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've done that... I was waiting for my dad to pick me up, and I saw (what I thought was) his Jeep stop across the street from me. I run over and try to open the door, but it's locked, so I start knocking on the window saying to unlock the car. 'Twas not my father, but a very alarmed guy who was a complete stranger. I apologized profusely and told him I thought he was my dad, then slunk back to my spot to continue waiting. When my dad finally showed up he got a kick out of my retelling of the event...

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PurpleUnicorn
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A few years ago I was one of 3 mothers with identical cars (make, model, colour, year) picking up from school. We used to park side by side to see if we could catch the kids out. Not one single time did it work!

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Squee She
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I spent 10 minutes and almost called a tow truck, trying to get into what wasn't my car 🤣 Identical car and colour, parked one row over, also in a handicapped spot in the dark. What are the odds!

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Vision Jinx
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This happened to me. My Mom had started the car while I was in the bathroom at a restaurant. She has a bright blue sedan. Car was running and grabbed the handle and this lady all spooked went, "GIRL WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?". I was pretty embarrassed and was like, "My Mom has the same car I swear!". She was a few parking spaces over.

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Bear Hall
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"I prefer Chicago and you seem to be much nicer than the *other* guy. How about we switch spouses?"

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Meeple13
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Poor guy would probably get the same response at other bars too, awareness needs to be raised.

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Study Approach: Deciphering Embarrassing Stories

To gain insight into the experience of feeling socially awkward, Clegg undertook what scientists call a narrative study, in which he and his research team asked participants to report in-depth about a particular instance.

They used a semi-structured interview that allowed participants the freedom to describe their embarrassing stories and experiences but also provided some guidance so that the responses would be easily interpretable.

Clegg and his team discussed each of the responses, searching for common themes. The participants included undergraduates as well as people of different ages and walks of life, including a man in his 90s.

The goal was to go in-depth into the respondents’ narratives rather than to count proportions, as is done in other similar surveys. This made the findings particularly helpful in gaining an inside look into the experience of embarrassing things in social environments.

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Cheyanne Pavan
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He was probably just relieved to have a regular lunch with a regular person who didn't fawn all over him!

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What Are the Examples of Embarrassing Situations?

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“Tense or uncertain social situations were the first type of awkwardness that Clegg and his team identified,” Whitbourne said.

“These could be sudden (as when you drop or spill something) but often are ones that you expect ahead of time to be awkward. For example, Clegg described the experience of meeting the parents of one’s significant other. In general, the less you know what to expect about a situation, the more you anticipate it to be awkward. If you’re lucky, though, the situation doesn’t turn out as badly as you expected, so the awkwardness is never realized.”

Awkwardness might take the form of a perceived transgression. For instance, imagine you say or do something that goes over the boundaries of taste or propriety. (You could make a joke about someone you don't know very well but only realize after you’ve blurted out the comment that it went too far.)

It’s awkward not only to commit a social transgression like this but to also be part of a group in which these embarrassing things are done by someone else.

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BC_Animus
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How did she even get into the stolen car? And how were her and the cops trying to start the car? Did her key fit into the ignition?

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What Happens When You Get into an Embarrassing Situation?

“During an awkward moment, you’re likely to feel intense focusing of social attention. Time may seem too slow or stop, as in your mind (and possibly in reality), you’ve become the target of everyone’s gaze,” Whitbourne said.

"You feel anxious and embarrassed and perhaps even experience sweaty palms and heart palpitations. Although some individuals enjoy being the center of attention, particularly those high in narcissism, after committing a social transgression, the feeling that others are staring is typically uncomfortable during or following an awkward moment.”

Once you start to feel awkward, chances are that you’ll behave in ways that become even more awkward, creating even more embarrassing situations.

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Jules.
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Me Irish reading this. Scratching my head thinking must be a tiny island off Scotland.

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“Your anxiety may lead you to laugh anxiously, speak in a wavering tone of voice, look uncomfortable, and blush or stammer. At the same time, other people in the room may themselves feel an empathic kind of awkwardness. They think about what it might be like if the awkward thing happened to them but also might feel that your behavior makes them look bad. What if you bring a friend to a party, and the friend spills soda all over herself? You might be glad that at least none of it got on you, but you might also feel that everyone else will judge you as clumsy, too, because it was your friend,” the professor continued.

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Clegg and his team noted that the respondents were anxious to make all of these awkward situations go away as fast as possible. As one participant stated, “I felt like the longer I let it sit, the more it would fester and just be uncomfortable and leave a bad taste in everybody’s mouth.”

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Noir
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Omg. I would not be able to hold it together. Full puke mode. Full projectile vomiting. That's just rancid.

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How to Deal With an Embarrassing Situation? 

"When you’ve committed an awkward act, there are two broad alternatives: pretend it didn’t happen (avoidance) or confront it directly,” Whitbourne highlighted.

"Comedian Chevy Chase, in his early days, was the master of launching a grand pratfall from which he jumped up and moved on as if nothing had occurred. It may be funny for a comedian to commit such a faux pas, but when it happens to you, there’s nothing humorous about it.”

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In an avoidant response, you try to distance yourself from the situation by averting your gaze, or you might just simply get up and leave when the first opportunity presents itself.

Unfortunately, however, pretending something bad didn’t happen doesn't make it go away.

“You might decide that since there’s nothing you can do, it is best to forget it and move on, but at least in some people’s minds, it’s not been resolved,” Whitbourne said.

One example Clegg provides is of a young woman in a pool whose swimsuit had come off. It was one of those embarrassing moments in public, but rather than owning up to her feelings, she just swam away as quickly as possible, hoping that no one noticed (though, of course, they probably did).

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ohjojo (you/your's)
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Living in the Caribbean I was at the beach all the time. Went to take off my shorts. Dropped them and pulled them up real quick. Forgot to put on my swimsuit

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Lovin' Life
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Very innocent mistake. Me being the fixer I am would have probably done the same of at least asked if she needed help.

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BC_Animus
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This guy was very generous I must say - a strange woman is eating his muffin in front of him and he didn't say a word, he just sat there and shared his food.

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Handling an Embarrassing Situation Using Humor

“A much better strategy for resolving awkwardness is confronting it directly,” Whitbourne said. In most cases that Clegg investigated, even the most embarrassing situations were resolved best through humor.

“This has to apply to you when you’re the one who’s committed the awkward act. You won't gain friends if you use humor to make fun of their awkwardness. However, your friends will feel a lot better about the situation and probably admire you for your courage when you own up to a social transgression. You don't have to be a professional comedian to know how to use humor in an awkward situation. Even saying ‘awkward!’ can do the trick.”

But since everyone has had embarrassing things happen to them, there’s no point in imagining that you can be immune from them and scrutinize yourself when you create one too.

Instead, by showing that you’re able to acknowledge even the most embarrassing situation and handle it, you will minimize its effects on the way others view you—and how you view yourself.

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Mahogany Eclipse
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm sorry for their loss, this also gave me a serious case of the giggles 😂😂😂😂

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BC_Animus
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Never take your jacket off in public - that is how cannibalism starts.

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Mindghost
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Odd they have the kitchen also this far from the seating"

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Xandra
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My husband did that, in the big trash can behind our block. He had to bend over in the bin, half of him was inside, digging through garbage bags. A neighbor asked "Are you looking for something doc?" Well duh...

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MTEfres
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Was leaving the mall and got in my Jeep, would not start. Same make model color and my keys unlocked the door, was sitting in car parked right next to mine.

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Casey
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And those people became her new parents. I am assuming that she "brilliantly hid" inside the car.

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Kiryn Silverwing
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If I lived somewhere that used to be a public place, I'd be a lot more careful about keeping my doors locked.

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Annie Bieber
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My son was 2...we lived on a USMC Air Station...pulling up to the base MacDonalds I see a van load of FA-18 Pilots in their flight 🛩 suits..."Nice buns" I remarked. We get in line behind them & my son yells "NICE BUNS" at top of his toddler lungs... they laughed...I died a slow painful death...⚰.

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アニカ ゲルストナー
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am from Germany and those are not tip jars but usually donation jars for various organizations like helping poor children

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Note: this post originally had 86 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.