Embarrassing--Monday Memory

My most embarrassing moment happened when I was 16 years old.

I was taking a speech class from Mr. Udall. He had one day a week when you could give in impromptu speech and complain about anything you wanted as long as you did not slander anyone or badmouth any individuals.

It took me about three months to come up with something to say for that assignment. Finally, a couple of things began to bother me so I stood up and said (with my hands on my hips)...

"I've had two things on my chest for the longest time."

Mr. Udall couldn't get the class back under control and I didn't get why they were laughing. I was really hurt that everyone was making fun of me. When I did finally catch on....

one word

mortified.

What is your most embarrasing moment?

Mini Skirts--Monday Memory

When I was in high school, mini skirts were just coming into style. I was never allowed to wear anything as short as the picture above, but the school rule was -- when you kneel down your skirt has to touch the ground.

I had a brand new, really cute, green skirt that buttoned up the front and had patch pockets. It was full and made of double knit polyester and it always looked nice. I loved it.

I walked into Mrs. Thurber's Home Ec class and she announced, loudly, to the entire room..."Sandi Conant, go home, your skirt is too short." I was humiliated. I am easily embarrassed when caught off guard.

We lived just across the street from the high school, so I went home. My Mom came home for lunch and I told her what had happened. She was really upset. My skirt just barely showed my knees. She marched over to the school during the lunch hour with a pencil and paper and wrote down the names of every girl wearing a skirt as short as mine. It was a long list, including the Principal's daughter.

I got to go back to school. Mrs. Thurber apologized to me and the skirt length rule was never mentioned again.

No such rules when I get my PhD...I can't wait to get started.

Dresses and Softball--Monday Memory

When I was in high school, we were not allowed to wear pants to school. Every once in awhile we had a day when we were allowed to wear pants, but we were not allowed to wear pants that opened in the front...you figure that one out. All of our pants had to zip in the back or on the side. Whatever.

Anyway, we had PE and we wore these extremely tight, extremely short red cotton jumpsuits (in which I looked really good--NOT). We had PE in the gym most of the time, however, in the spring, our PE teacher (who always wore a suit and tie and dress shoes, what's that about?) would take us outside to play softball.

When we went outside to play, we had to wear our DRESSES. I guess they were afraid the boys might see us in our shorts, like dresses are so much more modest when you are running around the bases and trying to beat the ball and sliding for home.

I was always having female sickness on those days. No way was I playing softball in a dress.

Of course there is always the fact I had to face that I would always be the last one picked--you have no idea how embarrassing that is.

Oh, how grateful I am that we have moved beyond such female suppression. I do have to say, though that it would be nice if modesty was back in style and that school pictures did not look like they were taken in the boudoir.

Next week, "Go home, your skirt is too short"

Irrigation Boots and the Boys Stairs-Monday Memory

I was a Senior in High School. LeRoy Negle...I forgot how to spell his last name...anyway, he was irrigating the lawn at the school. At lunch time, I somehow got in the irrigation water. That meant my shoes got wet and muddy.

You were not allowed in the school with bare feet, so I asked LeRoy if I could borrow his irrigation boots to go to history class. I put on the size 12 boots and stomped into the school and on a whimmmm.......

went up the BOY'S stairs.

I was sent to the Principal's office and my Mom had to be called. I was such a rebel.

Why did we have BOY'S stairs and GIRL'S stairs, you ask?

Well, the Boy's stairs were by the Boy's bathroom and we were not allowed to walk past the Boy's bathroom and the Girl's stairs were by the Girl's bathroom and the boys were not allowed to walk past the Girl's bathroom.

I guess it was because we might "see" something. Or maybe it was a way to keep us from walking hand in hand in the halls or something. Whatever.

I am grateful the world has moved past that.

Next week, dresses and softball.