This One is for Jennie...

This memory is the accompanying embarrassing memory to the Student Government rap that I did in the 5th grade. I can't remember exactly if this happened in the 4th or the 5th grade, but here we go. In one of those two grades I tried out for and won the role as Lana Ladybug in the school play Goin' Buggy. You know, it taught life lessons and skills using the world of bugs as a metaphor. So there were two complete sets of "actors" so all of the kids got a chance to perform, and who ever was not doing it on one day had to be in the choir. So, my group went first and we did the play for the kindergarten-2nd grade part of the school. I was Lana Ladybug, and I had a whole song to sing by myself with backup dancer guys in top hats with antennas and everything. The song went something like "That's no way to treat a Laaaadaybuggg.....NO! No way at all *do do do dooo do....*" It was genius work, really. And I really have the sheet music somewhere still to this day. Let's recount what I was wearing, next, shall we? Black leotard, black leggings, black crushed velvet skirt, bright red high heels we bought on consignment, and a red feather boa. My hair was super curly and I had a sparkly red headband that my mom attached pipe cleaners to so I had antennas. When telling this story to Jennie she was upset that I forgot to mention the ridiculous earrings I was wearing, which are clearly visible in the picture I sent her, which is the same as the one below. The earrings were my favorite ones. When I was younger (and still to this day, but on a much less 90's level) I LOVED jewelry. Especially my mom's costume jewelry, which she had in abundance. The earrings I am wearing in the picture are clip ons with gobs of fake pearls. Looking back I can remember wearing these earrings and the other pair that my mom had like them on a daily basis I loved them so much. Now as an adult I am mad at my parents for not telling my that I looked like a little baby hooker wearing those earrings. Thanks guys. Looking at the picture again I believe, in addition to the headband with pipe cleaners, I am wearing a black and red polka-dotted bow. And bright red lipstick. LOVE IT!! Ok, but the point of the story is that I did my number and it went off smashingly! So the next day the other group was performing the play for the 3-5 graders and I was in jean shorts, a school shirt, and tennis shoes in the choir. The girl who was playing Lana that day is named Faith Ann, and she proceeded to walk out on stage, freeze, and run back off again. My mom taped both shows, and all you can hear in the tape of the second show is my music teacher yelling at my mom to get me on stage. So there I was in my jean shorts, school shirt, tennis shoes, and a red feather boa. And I did the number smashingly again! I can cite that event as an actual change in my level of confidence in myself. I feel bad that Faith Ann has horrible memories of it, but whatever. So here is a pic of me as Lana in full ladybug regalia.


The person on the left is my friend Deana, who I have written about in previous posts. The person on the right is my friend Emily, who I am sure will be mentioned at some point in more detail, as her house was the hub of my horseback riding experiences and Barbie play dates.

Letters from the Wasteland

Last night when I was getting into bed I got a wild hair and decided to look through some of my memory boxes. I like antiques, so all my memory boxes are old and wooden and have horrible worn out linings. One box has just pictures. Another one has trinkets from elementary school, and two others have my old horrible '90s jewelry in them. Then I found one that I had kind of forgotten about that has high school stuff in it. Things like all my ticket stubs from New York and Walt Disney World and playbills from all of Susan's plays. I had so much fun looking at that box full of stuff that I dug out my letter box. From time to time I will get it out and read all the notes my friends and I passed back and forth and letters written a long time ago. A few of the ones I really enjoyed reading again are from my dad when he was still in Kansas and we had already moved to Texas. They are all reminding me to not be mean to my sister, along with things like sending me $30 to take my mom out for Mother's Day. I was about 8 years old:) Another one was actually from me to Santa, asking if he could please leave present in my stocking for my stuffed dragon Draggie. I loved Draggie with all my heart, and apparently really wanted him to get a present all his own. So, on the back of the letter I wrote, "Santa" wrote back in huge block lettering that is clearly my mom's. It said that he would leave a bracelet for Draggie, but that maybe Draggie would let me wear it mostly. And also, be nice to my sister. Apparently I had a problem with that. Others are from my childhood friends Jacque and Stacey, on Hello Kitty paper all about the next time we would get to visit each other. Then there are the ones that I can never talk about because they are so personal and take me back to such an amazing place in my childhood that typing their content does not do them justice. Those are from friends, ex-boyfriends, and childhood crushes. I do not usually get emotional about a lot of stuff, but reading some of those letters made me cry. Not because they are sad or about bad times, but because they represent a time that is so extremely precious to me, and I am so lucky to have it written down on paper that I was smart enough to keep. How in the world did I become a museum person?!?! I bet no one saw that one coming...

Politics

Even though looking back I never see myself as a "leader" exactly, especially in my younger years, what really happened points to the contrary. In fifth grade I ran for and won the position of Student Government Secretary. In college I ran for and won the title of Student Government President at the community college I went to before I went to Baylor. At Baylor I was Museum Studies Student Association President. So, obviously I am just asking for the punishment that comes with leadership positions. The specific incident I want to recall relates to my fifth grade stint as Secretary. I was running against a girl named Kim, and actually that was the closest competition I have encountered in all my political races. This is so classic. I made construction paper hearts that had my campaign slogan on them, and there was a Hershey's Kiss taped to each one. Kim accused me of cheating and "buying" votes with my delicious chocolate heart-o-votes. That is a lie. She obviously did not know me, because that is just how I roll. I am a perfectionist, and if I am going to run I will do anything to win. I was probably wearing my Elvis jump suit, too. That probably didn't help my chances of winning:) The other part of my campaign was getting on the school TV channel and doing a "Vote for Me" rap that me and my friend Emily wrote. It is probably the most hilarious thing I have ever done. I wish wish wish I could post the video of it, but it is on VHS. Only a select few people have seen the original video. Anyway, I have many fond memories that stem from me wearing the Elvis jumpsuit. I have GOT to find a pic with me wearing it. Don't elect me for anything else:)