Roseville Man Recalls Embarrassing Moments from 1983 Mexico Trip

Decades-old memories of an embarrassing bullfighting attempt and coffee spill incident resurface, reminding us how technology has made it harder to escape past follies.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 4:19am

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An extremely abstracted, out-of-focus photograph in warm tones depicting a blurred, hazy scene of a man in a suit and tie stumbling backwards after being charged by a large steer, conceptually illustrating the embarrassment of past mistakes that can no longer be easily contained in the digital age.Decades-old memories of an embarrassing bullfighting attempt and coffee spill incident resurface, reminding us how technology has made it harder to escape past follies.Roseville Today

A Roseville man recounts two embarrassing incidents from a 1983 trip to Mexico - getting charged by a steer while attempting bullfighting moves, and having coffee spilled on him on a flight home, leading to an awkward cleanup by a flight attendant as fellow passengers snapped photos.

Why it matters

The story highlights how technological advances like photography and the internet have made it harder for people to avoid eternal embarrassment over past mistakes or awkward moments, which used to be more easily contained before the digital age.

The details

The author, now 69 years old, was 27 at the time and weighed 320 pounds. During a tour of a senator's hacienda in Mexico, the author was convinced by others to try his hand at bullfighting moves with a steer, despite his limited Spanish and the steer's larger size. This resulted in the steer charging the author, who was sent flying over the fence. Days later, the author was served a traditional 'goat's head stew' by the ranch hands, which he ate despite the unappetizing appearance and smell. On the flight home, the author's coffee-stained pants led to an awkward cleanup by a flight attendant as fellow passengers took photos.

  • In 1983, the author was 27 years old and weighed 320 pounds.
  • The Mexico trip took place over two weeks.
  • The bullfighting incident occurred during a tour of a senator's hacienda.
  • The 'goat's head stew' incident happened a few days later at a lunch for 200 people.
  • The coffee spill on the flight home occurred on the last night of the trip in Mexico City.

The players

The Author

A 27-year-old reporter for The Press-Tribune in Roseville, California, who was overweight at the time and required to wear suits and ties for work.

The Vaqueros

Working cowboys at the senator's hacienda who were trying to get someone to try bullfighting moves with a steer.

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What they’re saying

“Let me be clear. My judgment was not clouded by alcohol or drugs. I can say honestly that I've never have done either. But like an idiot, I let them talk me into it.”

— The Author

“The smell made people around me nauseous. Not me.”

— The Author

The takeaway

This case highlights how the digital age has made it harder for people to escape embarrassment over past mistakes or awkward moments, which used to be more easily contained before the ubiquity of photography and the internet.