I was a Girl Scout. Go ahead, get your laughs out now. I was in Girl Scouts from 1st grade through 12th grade graduation. I was also a Girl Scout troop leader.
As a Girl Scout we often went camping. And by camping I mean staying in a heated lodge on a camp ground. We usually spent the weekend eating as much food as possible, doing make overs, and watching movies on the tv we brought with us. We were not rough and tough scouts by any means. Most of the time we did "camping" for fun but sometimes we were involved in events and volunteer work which took us out to our "camp".
One such event involved us camping for a weekend and teaching younger scouts what it's all about and do activities with them. They only stayed for the day but we stayed all weekend and worked with different groups of kiddos that came to visit. We weren't the only older and wiser girls there teaching these pipsqueaks. There were other older troops there staying the weekend and we had to double up on lodges. We were teamed up with a troop of home schooled girls who were very responsible Girl Scouts. They never did wrong and hadn't had much excitement in life. Since they were there we were not able to do our usual binging and watching tv. In other words, we were bored quickly.
What does boredom always lead to? Hilarious antics. Whose idea it was I do not remember. All I know is that we decided to spend the weekend speaking with British accents. Literally the entire time. And you know what? Our home schooled roomies bought it. They thought we were all from London and had relocated our entire troop here to Midwest United states. They asked us tons of questions about London and what kind of food we ate and what the schools there were like. Being the non-responsible group we were, we went with it and made up all sorts of fun stories. How anyone believed our poor rendition of the accent is a mystery to me. We were the most popular troop in camp. I guess none of the leaders ratted us out because our ruse lasted until we drove away on Sunday afternoon.
What lesson did I learn from this Girl Scout outing? People are easily fooled and adults enjoy a good joke just as much as the kids do.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Friday, October 8, 2010
Always a Flower Girl
Growing up, for some reason, I was always called on to be a flower girl in someone's wedding whom I didn't even know. I have never understood why someone would want some kid they don't know to be in their wedding.
Regardless, I was called on to be a flower girl for my mom's half brother's wife's daughter's wedding. Ain't that a mouthful (and yes, I know that ain't is not really a word). What might you ask did I have to wear to this "family" wedding? Why of course I was wearing a little white wedding dress type gown with a peach colored sash. Peach. At least I wasn't one of the bridesmaids who were wearing all peach. I think we had about ten bridesmaids, ten groomsmen of course, and two flower girls. I have no idea who this other girl was but I was definitely the cute one. Everyone was marveling at my hair because my mom had it professionally done for this "special" occasion. I managed to stutter walk done the aisle as I was taught in my uncomfortable peach dyes shoes and made it to my spot on the bench next to my mom. My part was over and I was bored. What could possibly entertain me during a boring wedding ceremony you ask? Ask and you shall receive. Not five minutes into the wedding, the groom fainted. It was awesome, and by awesome I mean totally scary for everyone else but totally hilarious to me. I think the poor guy had his tie on too tight and choked himself out. That stunt was enough to keep me giggling through the rest of the ceremony and on to my next flower girl gig.
A year or so later my half cousin decided to get married and low and behold I was again made flower girl. This time I got to wear another mini wedding gown only this time it had a black sash, how risky. I decided to do my own hair this time, and in the fashion of the times decided to crimp my hair. Picture this if you will....long brown hair flowing down to my butt, triangle crimped into an afro of sorts. I looked like I had been electrocuted and it was awesome. So off to the wedding I went with my electrified hair and black and white ensemble. I should have been at a zombie wedding. No one commented on my hair and I again completed my duties without a hitch. My cousin managed to stay upright and not pass out so the ceremony was a bore.
By this time I was getting a little old for a flower girl. So what was I called on to do next, guest book attendant of course (love you guys if you are reading this). Because you can't have a wedding without one of those. So here I was again, working another wedding. I got to choose my own dress this time since I clearly didn't own anything appropriate enough for a wedding. I chose a floor length blue dress with a matching purse and one of those sheer shawl things that are good for absolutely nothing. I mean really, they are sheer so they will never keep you warm. They don't have sleeves so you have to spend the entire night trying to hold your elbows just right so it doesn't fall down. Add the matching purse and I was miserable trying to keep myself together. I guess I missed my directions because I was not really sure what exactly a guest book attendant was suppose to do. I mean, was the book going to get up and run away if I wasn't there to watch it. It was big enough that no one could miss seeing it so I guess my job was to tackle down anyone who refused to sign and force them to do so in blood. Being a sweet innocent shy middle schooler I chose instead to stand there looking stupid and pointing to the book as people passed by. All the while, trying to keep that stupid shawl and purse on my shoulders. What did I need a purse for any way, it's not like I had any money. I didn't wear makeup and cell phones hadn't been invented yet so I'm pretty sure that purse was empty. But it was so cute. I actually still own that outfit, but why I'm not sure. Maybe I can wear it for Halloween and say I'm dressed as a 90's loser. I am sure to win best costume.
Lets just say, I have not been asked to be in a wedding since other than my best friend's wedding. My cute adorable stage had passed and now it was just awkward. I remember those days fondly and when I got married I kept those thoughts alive. I refused to have a flower girl and my guest book stood alone on a table. No strange girl I didn't know was going to be tortured at my wedding. You can all thank me later.
Regardless, I was called on to be a flower girl for my mom's half brother's wife's daughter's wedding. Ain't that a mouthful (and yes, I know that ain't is not really a word). What might you ask did I have to wear to this "family" wedding? Why of course I was wearing a little white wedding dress type gown with a peach colored sash. Peach. At least I wasn't one of the bridesmaids who were wearing all peach. I think we had about ten bridesmaids, ten groomsmen of course, and two flower girls. I have no idea who this other girl was but I was definitely the cute one. Everyone was marveling at my hair because my mom had it professionally done for this "special" occasion. I managed to stutter walk done the aisle as I was taught in my uncomfortable peach dyes shoes and made it to my spot on the bench next to my mom. My part was over and I was bored. What could possibly entertain me during a boring wedding ceremony you ask? Ask and you shall receive. Not five minutes into the wedding, the groom fainted. It was awesome, and by awesome I mean totally scary for everyone else but totally hilarious to me. I think the poor guy had his tie on too tight and choked himself out. That stunt was enough to keep me giggling through the rest of the ceremony and on to my next flower girl gig.
A year or so later my half cousin decided to get married and low and behold I was again made flower girl. This time I got to wear another mini wedding gown only this time it had a black sash, how risky. I decided to do my own hair this time, and in the fashion of the times decided to crimp my hair. Picture this if you will....long brown hair flowing down to my butt, triangle crimped into an afro of sorts. I looked like I had been electrocuted and it was awesome. So off to the wedding I went with my electrified hair and black and white ensemble. I should have been at a zombie wedding. No one commented on my hair and I again completed my duties without a hitch. My cousin managed to stay upright and not pass out so the ceremony was a bore.
By this time I was getting a little old for a flower girl. So what was I called on to do next, guest book attendant of course (love you guys if you are reading this). Because you can't have a wedding without one of those. So here I was again, working another wedding. I got to choose my own dress this time since I clearly didn't own anything appropriate enough for a wedding. I chose a floor length blue dress with a matching purse and one of those sheer shawl things that are good for absolutely nothing. I mean really, they are sheer so they will never keep you warm. They don't have sleeves so you have to spend the entire night trying to hold your elbows just right so it doesn't fall down. Add the matching purse and I was miserable trying to keep myself together. I guess I missed my directions because I was not really sure what exactly a guest book attendant was suppose to do. I mean, was the book going to get up and run away if I wasn't there to watch it. It was big enough that no one could miss seeing it so I guess my job was to tackle down anyone who refused to sign and force them to do so in blood. Being a sweet innocent shy middle schooler I chose instead to stand there looking stupid and pointing to the book as people passed by. All the while, trying to keep that stupid shawl and purse on my shoulders. What did I need a purse for any way, it's not like I had any money. I didn't wear makeup and cell phones hadn't been invented yet so I'm pretty sure that purse was empty. But it was so cute. I actually still own that outfit, but why I'm not sure. Maybe I can wear it for Halloween and say I'm dressed as a 90's loser. I am sure to win best costume.
Lets just say, I have not been asked to be in a wedding since other than my best friend's wedding. My cute adorable stage had passed and now it was just awkward. I remember those days fondly and when I got married I kept those thoughts alive. I refused to have a flower girl and my guest book stood alone on a table. No strange girl I didn't know was going to be tortured at my wedding. You can all thank me later.
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