From PRX, this is the Moth Radio Hour.

I'm Meg Bowles.

I'm a blusher.

And if someone says, are you blushing, it accelerates to full on magenta.

I chalk it up to my Scottish roots, but let's just say it's hard to hide my embarrassment.

There are all kinds of situations that cause us embarrassment.

Like the time you enthusiastically waved at someone waving in your direction, only to

realize they were actually waving at someone behind you. Or you're in that awkward situation where you

absolutely know the person, but you cannot for the life of you remember their name, and they're

waiting for you to introduce them. Or perhaps you're a teenager,

and in that case, it's probably anything and everything your parents do in public.

We all have our moments.

Situations that looking back make us cringe.

Our first story is easily a 9.1 on the embarrassment Richter scale.

So much so, in order to spare her mother's blushes,

this storyteller chooses to only be identified by her first name.

She shared it at one of our open mic story slams in New Orleans,

where we partner with New Orleans Public Radio.

Live from Cafe Istanbul, here's Marissa.

One year, eight months, and 11 days ago, was the biggest day of my life to that point.

It was the day that I would finally officially fulfill my lifelong dream

of becoming a scientist. I'm obsessed with science. I especially like worms, bugs, parasites,

...