My Most Embarrassing Moment

I'm not sure how we got on this topic yesterday, but we were talking about embarrassing moments, and Herman asked me what my most embarrassing moment in high school was. I had to think for awhile. I don't know why. It seems like the problem in coming up with an answer would be that there were maybe thousands of things I could have said. I don't particularly remember high school as being a time of smooth sailing and blooming roses wherever I walked. Such an awkward time. But time has softened my memories, and I can't remember any embarrassments. Well, I guess I should clarify and say that I do remember horribly awful moments that I wish I could magically erase from my memories, but as far as those funny, embarrassing things ... well, I couldn't think of anything.

At first.

Then I thought of a great story to share with Team Blau to let the family see a bit of my humanity (in case they weren't sure about whether or not Mom was a total geezer in school). Technically this happened when I was in junior high (now for those years I could have come with TONS of embarrassing moments), but since our junior high and high school were connected (dumbest architectural decision ever!), and I was participating in a high school theater production ... well, I think I could make a case for this being eligible. So here it is:

Every fall our high school put on a musical. It was a big deal, and, looking back, I have to say that it was quite impressive that our little school could put on such a polished production. For many years my dad was the director. My mom remembers those times of the year as horrible because he was never, ever home. But I remember being so proud of what my dad could put together. When I was in 8th grade the high school musical was The Wizard of Oz.  They needed lots of munchkins, so several 8th graders were recruited. I was excited to be part of this "big person" production. I didn't get any real role. I was just part of the large group of munchkins that appeared here and there during the musical. I was part of the larger group until they pulled three of us apart and asked if we could be part of the Lollipop Guild.

This Lollipop Guild:

I am sure that I wasn't chosen because of any outstanding talent ('cause -- obviously -- it takes tremendous singing and acting ability to play these parts, right?). I think it is because the other two girls and I were about the same height. Who knows?

I think that we did pretty good during all of our rehearsals. I don't remember it being a big deal at all. I wasn't even nervous about performing in public. It shouldn't have ended up on my "Most Embarrassing Moment" list. But, sadly, my musical acting career was destined to begin and end in tragedy. 

The day before opening night the choir director brought each of us these gigantic lollipops.

Like this one.

They were huge, and they were beautiful. Someone must have traveled a bit to pick these up, because I am pretty sure that they didn't sell candy like this in Carrollton anywhere. I may be wrong. It definitely seemed like a treasure. Well, the night of our first live performance happened, and I headed onto the stage with the rest of the munchkins. We sang. We danced. And it came time for my big Lollipop Guild debut. To this day I still do not know what happened, but sometime in the course of my kicking and singing my lollipop went flying. It shattered all over the stage floor. Everyone sort of gasped, but I am sure that no one really thought too much about it except for the fact that now all of us had lollipop scraps all over our socks and shoes.

Well, that's not true ... someone thought too much about what had happened ... ME. I was horrified! I somehow managed to keep it all together while we were out on stage, although I am sure that I looked frightful as I tried to hold my emotions in check. I probably looked like I was in pain ... not the way you picture the members of the Lollipop Guild. Well, now that I've re-watched the scene from the movie, I guess they do like they are in pain, so maybe I was looking like I was totally in character for this one. Maybe.

Either way, as the scene ended I flew away to the band room where I promptly dissolved into tears. I sobbed and sobbed and sobbed. This is how my dad found me. A blubbering mess on the floor of the band room. I think he had been watching the performance, but I don't think that he saw my shattering lollipop scene. So he was totally confused when he walked in to find me in such a mess. He asked me what was wrong, and, if it could even be done, I actually cried harder as I explained:

I DROPPED MY LOLLIPOP!

My dad just looked at me. For a long time. Then he quietly said, "What?" I don't think that he thought that he had heard me right. Seriously, what 8th grade student dissolves into a mess of tears over dropping a piece of candy? Apparently I did. I'm sure my dad said some sort of words of comfort at that moment. Maybe. It is possible that he just looked at me funny and told me to get over myself. I don't remember. I do know that I was able to continue on and complete the run of shows, so life didn't end for me at that moment. Hooray for that. I did decide that musical theater acting was not my forte. After that one experience I decided to dedicate my time to playing the trumpet in the pit orchestra. Less opportunity there for public humiliation, I think.

Yesterday I shared that moment with my family for the first time. They thought it was hilarious. I think the thought of me crying crocodile tears over broken candy was too funny. Thank goodness for years of perspective to take a bawl-worthy moment from my life and turn it into a great funny family moment years later. I hope I can always remember to keep some perspective. Now I'm off. I have a horrible craving for a Blow-Pop.