The Shyest Girl in Town

If you've never been shy, you don't know how lucky you are!  I first remember being shy in the first grade.  Luckily I had a wonderful teacher, Miss Duke, who tried to help me overcome it.  She held me on her lap when I was embarrassed because I couldn't do the arithmetic problems on the blackboard. Once I was too shy to ask permission to go to the restroom and wet clothes resulted - that was really bad.  I skipped lunch and sat outside on the playground so my skirt would dry and when the kids would ask why my dress was wet, I told them I'd spilled water on it.  My Music teacher, Miss Schultz, persecuted me because I wouldn't sing loud enough for her to hear and I think that may be why I've never felt comfortable trying to sing.  In high school I was the only girl in the small consolidated school I attended who didn't play basketball -- and that was because of my shyness too.  I didn't want anyone to see my knobby knees or see how clumsy I was at sports.  The school superintendent, Clyde Eoff, was an ogre and he gave me a hard time because I wouldn't suit up.  One time they didn't even have enough players to have a sub and when a player was injured, they had to play with only four girls so I wasn't very popular with the coach.

The shyness continued on through high school and into college and was getting worse instead of better.  Speech class was the worst of all and it was a required class so I had no choice about taking it.  I had a half-time job working in the English department and also worked for my speech teacher.  He, too, had a problem with turning red (or blushing) when he talked, so he was most sympathetic with me and I even made an A in speech.

When I went to work at IMC, I was in awe of my boss, Dick Kerner, and would turn red whenever I talked to him.  He was from the big city of Chicago and I'm sure thought I was the biggest hick he'd ever seen - he'd laugh at me for saying "po-lice" and my other Oklahoma miscues.  There would always be someone who would call attention to my red face when I was embarrassed and that made it much worse.

I've been trying to remember just when I stopped being so shy and when I stopped blushing when I'd talk to certain people -- but, thankfully, it did finally go away for the most part.  Occasionally when I'm feeling inadequate or intimidated, it will reoccur and it brings back all those old feelings of shyness that I had for so long!

No Birthday Party

Could hardly wait for our sorority's Christmas Party - which just happened to be on my birthday.  We were to have barbeque from the Red Chimney, along with vegetables, salads, and desserts provided b the members.  I'd made a Carrot Cake and two sugar-free Millionaire pies.  Bob got dressed up in his red & blue checked shirt and red vest (that I had made) and I wore my red velveteen blazer with a Christmas tree pin, a white sweater and black pants.  We left a little early so we could get a good parking place as it was cold and snowy and we didn't want to have to walk through the snow.  I drove; it wasn't very far - just to the Landsun Clubhouse and it appeared that we were the first ones there.  Then we realized that the lights were not on so began to suspect that something was wrong.  Luckily I'd taken my cell phone with me so I called my friend, Audrey, who was to bring the barbecue.  I asked if the party had been called off and she was surprised that no one had called to let me know.  So -- home we went and I knew that my birthday dinner was going to be leftover meatloaf or Chicken Noodle soup!  We were not too upset; it wasn't a good night to be out and we were afraid that it was going to get worse as it had snowed off and on all day.  Bob watched a football game and I read "The Partner" on my Kindle Fire.   I froze the desserts I'd made so hope they will be good if we reschedule the party to later this month.

The Big 80

This is the last day that I'll be 79
years old; tomorrow is my 80th birthday!  I approach it with a little sadness - I can tell that a lot of younger people just don't want to be around us "old people."  I'm guilty of that too -- just today I was impatient with a lady in her 90's who wanted to monopolize the conversation in our group.  I realize now that she is probably just lonely and, after spending most of her time alone, wanted to talk and share the events in her life.  She told of her son's illness, her money problems, tsk'd about the younger generation's failings, etc.  Hope I can remember to "keep my mouth shut" when I get that age (when I see people's eyes glazing over).
        This is my 80th "birthday picture."  Told you that there would be more wrinkles, gray hair, etc. (see former post on my 75th birthday).    I've already received lots of great birthday gifts - Bob gave me a Kindle Fire and John, Mary, Jeff, Scott & Vicky gave me everything I needed to redo my bathroom from animal prints to birds.  It turned out to be beautiful with Canton Blue bath and hand towels, washcloths, bath mat, bath rug, and a beautiful bird painting.  Cheers me up just to step in there.  Everything matches the cheerful 'teal' color. 
       Our sorority is having our Christmas Dinner tomorrow night, so that will be my birthday celebration too.  Bob invited me to go to the Stevens today for lunch but I chose to stay home and eat left-over meatloaf, potatoes and black-eyed peas.  It was delicious!  I then spent all afternoon making a carrot cake and two sugar-free pies for the sorority dinner.  I'd also made Macademia Nut cookies and brownies to take to Sunday School this morning so felt like I'd lived in the kitchen this weekend.
       I'm looking forward to Christmas music programs at our next two Tuesday Bible Studies and then our church's Christmas Cantata will be this weekend.  Last year's cantata was great; I could have attended all three.
         It is already getting very cold here and I'm already wishing for summer.  Thought I'd never say that after having such a miserable summer; especially when our heat pump went out and we spent 3 days with no air conditioning in 110 degree heat.
         Wonder if I'll still be around in 5 more years to post my "85th" ?