Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Cousin!

Several people asked me to post about embarrassing moments. Well, I'm sorry-but I just don't have any. I do ridiculous things on a regular basis so that embarrassing moments are all just blended into one big, fuzzy conglomeration of humiliation. I can tell you about two moments in my life that were particularly humiliating. They were both my cousin's fault. You remember the one I waited to get baptized with? We'll call her Sara. Cuz that's her name---except I just call her Cousin. Well, we did a lot of things together; wear matching outfits, play and coach soccer, take flute lessons, take ballet (actually, that could TOTALLY count as an embarrassing moment since we were kind of awful)...anyway, we spent lots of time together.

Well, way back in the day, she lived in a little town in Wyoming. We're talking 500 population little. I used to go up and stay with her family for a week or so during the summer. One day, we were riding bikes home from the post office and racing---and I got really far ahead and was totally winning. Well, she was jealous (I think). So, when it came time to turn onto her street (the one and only turn in the 30 second ride home) she turned and just let me go right on ahead. And get TOTALLY lost! In this little town. Now, maybe I should've been bright enough to not get lost---but I kind of have the worst sense of direction in the whole entire world. So there I am, 4 years old, totally lost. Maybe I cried a little bit. When I found my way back to her house----five minutes later---they hadn't even missed me! It was like it was no big deal that I got lost and almost disappeared. My pride was wounded sufficiently.

Then there was the time I was supposed to take the trash out at their house. It was Sara's job to tell me where the garbage can was. Well, her being so helpful and all, she took me outside and vaguely pointed in front of her and said, "It's behind that tree." There was a very tiny tree (as in 2 feet tall) right in front of where she pointed, and a nice little flower pot right behind it. So, I emptied all the garbages into that pot. And no, it was not nearly big enough to hold it all. However, about 50 feet away was a large pine tree and a big dumpster hidden behind it. Apparently that was where the trash went. Oops. My only consolation in this was that Sara got in trouble for not showing me where to go---and I was not blamed for being too dense to think a pot was not the garbage can. And also, my aunt cleaned it up instead of me. Maybe she felt bad that she didn't miss me when I got lost.

So, in an effort to get Sara back for humiliating me, I'm posting the picture we had taken together when we were 16. I'm not sure why this picture was taken, or why we weren't allowed to smile and be normal teenagers in it instead of trying to look "contemplative." We both kind of hate this picture---but she hates it worse. So this is to get her back.

28 comments:

Anonymous said...

Why do you hate that picture? I think it's sexy and sultry and altogether attractive!

I have three cousins that I grew up and everyone called us "The Four Mosquitoes" (as in Musketeers) at family reunions because we were a pretty dynamic foursome. We had a ton of fun and I remember the all-night Mad Lib fests and practical jokes we used to play on our boy cousins. Good times, good times!

Erin said...

Ooh, where in Wyoming? My sister lives in a podunk town in Wyoming.

And I think that picture is great too. I can almost smell the flowers.

Camille said...

I love the garbage story, really. The picture classic!

Kristina P. said...

I am totally laughing at that second picture. I mean laughing with you, of course.

Chrissy said...

Barb, I laughed through your whole blog! Sorry you didn't have your NICE cousin with you both times. :) J/K But I'm sorry two of your most embarrassing/ tragic experiences were both at our house. We honestly did like it when you visited...

TisforTonya said...

I think I just got over my lifelong wish to have a cousin near my age.

Sara @ Domestically Challenged said...

Yes! Missing a garbage can behind a tree? that is a priceless memory, isn't it?
Last picture, you are right, you do look...comtemplative.
But, she can't be that bad, after all, look at her name.

Deb said...

I love hearing stories about your family! It sounds amazing. The last picture is wonderful, though you each look like you really want to smile while thinking, "Wait! Sexy people don't smile!"

made sweet said...

oh my goodness barb. i love this post. that second story is sooooo funny and cute. and that first picture!!! ah! barb you're so adorable!!

April said...

Ahhhhh.....good times!!! Riding bikes and getting lost, and blaming cousins...those were the days!

LisAway said...

Cute pictures! What a fun childhood. Now I'll think of you whenever I see garbage in a flower pot. Which will probably be never, because who puts garbage in a flower pot?

I think I can beat, or at least match, your sense of direction.

CHERRANNE said...

Those photos were so cute! And I love the teenage one. Was she like your pseudo sister?

Kazzy said...

That was me above... my friend didn't sign out. :)

3 Bay B Chicks said...

What's to hate about the last picture? Every photo I have taken of me has fuzzy edges. I think it helps to make me appear more mysterious. :)

Love that you are sharing more tidbits from your past, Barbaloot. Very entertaining.

-Francesca

Sara Waldron said...

Yuk. I still do not love that picture. Beautiful background, nice dresses, weird not-us faces, and huge hip! But I have to say your blog did make me laugh. I can still picture you standing by the back door trying to figure out the trash thing. Ha ha! Oh, and thank you for not mentioning how old we were when we took ballet! Lots of good memories. Good thing we're still friends!

Sara Waldron said...

P.S. Thank you for also putting good pictures of us on there! We were quite cute weren't we?

Alyson | New England Living said...

That is hilarious that I think it's hilarious that you are "humilating" your beloved cousin.

Man, times have changed! We used to be able to roam the neighborhood and walk over to the local conveient store without parental supervision. Nowadays? No way!! My 4 year old is always in my sight. Kind of sad how it's changed, but I think it's cute that you still remember at that moment of feeling lost at 4. Interesting how the "traumatic" incidents always stay with us.

charrette said...

What fun stories! I LOVED all the adventures we had with our cousins when I was young...and now my kids have the same affection for them. They just refer to them as one big group...The Cousins. But it means the best friends in the whole wide world, I think.

Hey, I saw on Kazzy's blog that you did a semester at Nauvoo. My dad taught there one year. We loved visiting him there.

Shelley said...

These are great stories. And I love that you share them freely.
And by the way....the sexy and mysterious picture...well shouldn't we all have a photo like that of ourselves?

sara said...

Those are some sexy pictures! Especially the last one, I'd probably make that my header if I were you. So sad you were lost for a whole 5 mins. That' must've been pretty traumatic.

Nutty Hamster Chick said...

Thanks for commenting on my blog. I have enjoyed reading your posts as well but haven't commented.

This post was great. Families are wonderful most of the time.

MakingChanges said...

That ROCKS! Not that you got lost or dumped trash in a plant/pot, but that I am not the only person to share these embarrassing/humiliating stories. I feel complete! Barb- You complete me! heehee!

Teresa @ Grammy Girlfriend said...

I love this post....Thanks for stopping by my blog.
I just posted the last Disney post....
Hope you will enjoy it.
Stop by when you have some time.
I love all my new blog friends.

Smart Helm said...

This reminded my cousin and I who were "of an age". We didn't live close until we were older so we mailed letters (ok, so only about 5 each). Isn't family AWESOME?!?! Man.. I gotta move closer.

Thanks 4 sharing ur memories so I can remember mine :-)

PS.. I read and was going to comment on ur blog even before u commented on mine! Just FYI.

Shauna said...

Hope you have a super weekend!
♥ HUGS ♥

Debbie said...

It's really a lovely photo! And the flowerpot trash story is a hoot:)

Shelle-BlokThoughts said...

hahahahaha @ feeling the pot with garbage or getting lost when there was only ONE turn to turn on! You are so me but single and shorter! hehe

I love that last pic... what are you guys talking about? You are totally sexy! :)

I have sisters to blame my embarrassing moments on! That's how I roll!

Just SO said...

I love my cousins. Great stories!