8th grade graduation

I went to St. Barbara's for 8th grade and our 8th grade graduation was a big deal. We wore caps and gowns and got diploma's handed to us by the Bishop! Our school colors were brown and gold (hideous I know!), but needless to day the gowns were brown with gold tassels for the caps. Now by 8th grade I was old enough to know that things were not going well for my parents. We had moved into a rental house in Brookfield and we all knew that money troubles and other grown-up issues were troubling my parents. So a week before my graduation my Mom pulled my aside and told me that she had spoken to the principle at my school and even though my parents had not been able to come up with the tuition the school had agreed that withhold my diploma would be an unnecessary. However, my Mom did want me to know that she had handled the situation and that all was OK. So the morning of my graduation I got up and dressed in my pretty new dress and shoes, curled my hair and put on a little make-up. I then walked over to my friend Stacy's house so we could go to the school together for the line-up. I got into line, chattering excitedly with my friends in line, and was promptly pulled aside by the Principle. She informed me that there had been a new development in my parents tuition problem and that I was not going to get my diploma until they had paid the tuition in full. My eyes grew huge and started watering, my mouth dropped open I didn't know what to say. I told her that my Mom had told me I would get a diploma and she said things had changed and she wanted me to know so I was not shocked when I received an empty diploma holder form the Bishop. I was devastated. I started crying. Meanwhile my parents were busy getting the rest of the gang ready, buying flowers and balloon. My younger brother Peter insisted on carrying the balloon to the school, he was probably about 5 at the time, and of course he let go of the balloon on the way to the school. When I walked into the church for the ceremony I was crying so hard I could not even see straight. My Mom took one look at me and she just knew what had happened. She ran over to the principle to confront her but she refused to even talk to my Mother. Sure enough when they called my name I walked up to the Bishop and he smiled awkwardly at me and handed me an empty diploma holder. I started crying all over again. When the ceremony was over I met my family outside and of course started yelling at my Mom and Dad for ruining my life!!! I was horrified and embarrassed. Turns out my Dad had spoken to the principle and it was during that conversation that she had decided that the best way to revenge herself was to withhold my diploma. I don't know what was said by whom about what but my parents paid the outstanding bill and my diploma was sent to me 6 weeks later.

In 7th grade I became painfully aware of how "hairy" my legs were. On the bus there was this really mean kid (who, by the way, had Spock eyebrows) who always called me spider legs! I was devastated but every time I talked to my Mom about she said I was too young to shave my legs. Luckily for me at this time we lived with Grandma and my Aunt Linda who was a Senior in High School at the time and the epitome of rebellious pulled me aside one day and said "Look your Mom does not take a shower with you so if you want to shave your legs go ahead and do it!" Well that was all I needed I ran upstairs that minute jumped into the shower and began to literally HACK away the hair...unfortunately I must have grabbed an exceptionally dull razor because when I had finished I looked like I needed an ER. I did not even tell my Mom what I had done...but of course the bloody towel was a dead give away. I could tell she was mad but as the saying goes "It's easier to ask for forgiveness then permission!!!"

On becoming a woman

The first time I got my period I was sleeping over at a friends house. It was Mother's day weekend, I was 12. I woke up at my friends house went to the bathroom and was totally confused! I did not say anything to my friend and went home for Church and Mother's day activities. At the time we lived with my Grandmother...so that means my Mom and Dad, the 5 kids, my Aunt Helen (my grandmothers sister), my Grandparents (my Grandfather was sick with Huntington's Korea disease) my Uncle Johnny and my Aunt Linda...we all lived under the same roof! So imagine the chaos of a Sunday morning as everyone is fighting for bathroom time, a spot at the table to eat, and getting everyone out the door in time for Mass...can you say HECTIC! I try to pull my Mom aside privately and tell her what is going on...as if there is any privacy in a house FULL of people! I settle for a moment at the top of the stairs near the bathroom. I tell her what I suspect is occurring hoping beyond hope that she is going to hug me and take me into the bathroom and show me what the hell to do! Oddly enough my Mother stares and me and says "What do you want me to do? There is a box of pads under the sink". Devastated! I go into the bathroom and pull out what looks like a diaper and I think NO WAY! Then I get an idea...maybe I am wrong...maybe I am not menstruating!! Off I go with the family to church. When we return 2 hours later I go into the bathroom and sure enough things are happening. So I corner my mother again and say "Mom I am ruining my underwear can you PLEASE help me?" and she gapes at me and looks at me like I'm an idiot...she says "I can't buy you any new underwear so you'd better figure it out!". ACK!!!!
Well of course I did figure it out and then insisted on walking home everyday for lunch so I could use the facilities and not have to bring any of that "stuff" to school. In June my aunt flow did not appear and I was SOOOO relieved thinking it was all a mistake...it was back in July *sigh*.

Jupiter

When I was in abut 5th grade we were assigned to write up a paper about a planet and produce a model of the planet. I wrote up my paper on Jupiter and started bugging my mother about producing a Jupiter model. Being as we lived with her Mom at the time and she had her hands full with the 4 other children she put it off and put it off even though I kept nagging her. I told her I had it all planned out...we'd get one of those punching balloons..the really BIG ones and put paper machie all over it then I could paint it the colors of Jupiter. Well needless to say my big project did not occur until the NIGHT before the project was due and I was stressing out! e paper machied the balloon and it was taking forever to dry...but I knew I needed to paint it! So even though my mother kept telling me to wait and wait and wait I couldn't stand it any longer! I took out the paints and started in on the balloon. Well in the midst of my genius plan I had it in my head that I needed to POP the balloon...and when I did Jupiter looked like it had been hit by a meteor! I was devastated! I reluctantly continued to paint Jupiter..but I was mortified that my planet was moshed. The next day when it was my turn to present Jupiter the teacher was very kind and we all took turns guessing what catastrophe had occurred to the poor planet. Lesson learned all ways listen to your mother!

Sick

When I was in the 3rd grade I woke up one morning feeling peaked. I told my Mom I was sick who in turned took my temp...normal, asked me if I had a belly ache...no and promptly told me to get dressed and go to school. Once at school I continued to not feel well and told the teacher. I was sent to the nurse who called my Mom to come pick me up. My Mom arrived and was FURIOUS. She brought me home and told me to go to room and lay down that there would be no couch, no TV, no snacks. I went upstairs and started feeling quiet miserable about my current predicament. While my Mom was vacuuming the house I put my clothes back on and walked back to school...without telling my Mom. When I returned to school my teacher was a it shocked. She asked me if my Mom had brought me back and I said no that I had walked back. She took me to the principals office who in turned phoned my Mom. My Mom was shocked because A. she did not even know I was missing and B. had NO idea I knew how to walk to school from our house. I returned to my class and continued for the rest of the day. When school was over and my Mom picked us all up from school she asked me how I knew how to get to school? I told her I just walked the same way she drove us!

Tubes

When I was about 6 or 7 I had to have tubes put in my ears because of repeated ear infections. Now I guess today when this procedure happens its relatively painless...of course 30 years ago this was NOT the case. My Dad took me for the "procedure" and I was taken (ALONE) into a room where I was told to lay down on a table (read operating table). I was told to turn my head to the right. Then the brought over this HUGE SCARY looking machine and lined up a DRILL to my ear. The proceeded to DRILL A HOLE in my ear. I screamed and screamed and screamed LOUDLY for what seemed like hours. I was grabbing the nurses hand and screaming. Then when they were done they told me to turn my head to the left. I looked at them like they were NUTS...repeat this AGAIN are you kidding me...! I even asked them if they could put me out since this was such cruel and unusual punishment. They said no there was no need...no need. Can you imagine?!??!?! Then I grabbed the nurses hand again and sure enough the second ear hurt even more then the FIRST. When I was finished I left the room and ran into my Dad's arms who looked at the Dr's questioningly "like what did you do in there a frontal lobotomy??" But they just ushered us up to the front desk to pay our fee. When we returned home I laid down in my parents bed for the rest of the day sobbing.

Perspective

When I was in 2nd grade we had a assignment to write what we wanted to be when we grow-up. I was raised in a Catholic family and went to Catholic school. I had a Great_aunt who was a nun..you can see where this is going right?? Sure enough I wrote my essay on becoming a Nun. I even drew a lovely picture of a Nun on the back page covered with hearts and crosses. I remember standing up to read my essay and when I was finished I looked up at my teacher (who was a Nun) whose mouth was hanging agape...I thought it was odd at the time. She composed herself and said "Well welcome to the order we'd be happy to have you" and then I sat down oddly pleased with my choice. Fast forward to present day...happily married with a daughter...good grief what was I thinking in the second grade?!?!?