Don't Drop Your Drawers!

Okay, don't get your dander up, I have a "clean" site.

I am continuing to lose weight on the 17 Day Diet! Yay! 35 pounds have now disappeared into the netherworld. I was lamenting the one thing that is bad about a diet the other day (my clothes are falling off!) when my 95-year-old friend related this story which I am about to share with you.

When Lucy as a young woman during the War, elastic was scarce and therefore ladies underwear was frequently made with a string which ran through a channel at the top of the garment. One day she and a girlfriend had been shopping. They took the bus home after their shopping trip. As she was stepping off the bus, my friend heard and subsequently felt, a "pop" as her underwear string broke. She immediately realized what had happened and took one hand off her packages to modestly hold up here underwear.

The girls then continued to walk the two blocks home. Thank goodness the walk was short, and Lucy managed to get home without "dropping her drawers." But the story doesn't end here. Once she was safely inside the house (or so she thought) Lucy let go of the drawers and down they came. Unfortunately, Lucy had forgotten that it was dinner time and several of her Mother's boarders were sitting at the dining room table in full view of the front door! Needless to say, there were a lot of red faces in the room that day.

I had a similar experience one time when I had lost about 50 pounds. I had put on a half slip that morning before going to church. I didn't really realize how loose that slip was until I was walking out of Church that morning and it fell to my feet. I carefully stepped out of it, hoping no one would notice, picked it up off the ground and stuffed it in my purse and kept walking! I don't wear half slips anymore.

I only remember one other time that life presented me with such an embarrassing moment. I had a meeting one afternoon with the new Singles Minister at our Church to discuss plans for a Single Sunday School Class. I had to take my children to a friend to babysit that afternoon, and so I dressed rather hurriedly. I grabbed a pair of black slacks from the dryer without really inspecting them closely.

I arrived on time at the Church office, and after introductions, I sat across the desk from the Minister and began to discuss our plans. I am a very hyper person, and so it is unusual for me to sit completely still. I was, as usual sitting with my legs crossed, and swinging my foot back and forth when I noticed an unwanted sight. A nylon stocking was hanging out from the bottom of my slacks! What to do? Well, I knew the Minister could see it as well as I could, and I blushed and laughed, and proceeded to explain how I had left the house in such a hurry. If you have ever watched one of those clowns pulling a string of handkerchiefs out of a pocket, you can imagine just how long it took to pull those pantyhose out of my slacks! Believe me, I will NEVER put on a pair of slacks again without checking to see what is inside the legs!

So ladies and gents, I am warning you...be careful. Check your pants, and don't drop your drawers!

Surviving Preschool

Liv started "big school" Preschool at the school her older sister attends this week. There are twenty-two four-year-old children in her class. Kudos to a teacher, and one para-pro who are willing to take on this monumental task.

The reason I say it is a monumental task is because I have taught 2-4 year old children before. My group was much smaller, only 13 most of the time, and I only had them for two hours one day a week. I can't even begin to imagine five days a week for eight hours. I was exhausted every time I left there.

The first day at Liv's preschool was quite an adventure. One child began screaming as soon as her parents left the room. She was inconsolable. They tried sending her to one of the office for comfort, but there was not comforting this child. Finally, the parents were called back and sat with her in the classroom until she calmed down. After a period of time, the parents slipped out the door and out of the building. For a few moments everything was fine. But, suddenly the child realized the parents were gone. She jumped up and ran from the classroom screaming all the way. One of the parents, who was assisting that day, stayed in the classroom while the teacher and para-pro went running after the child. Fortunately, they caught up with her before she could get out of the building. They returned to the classroom with the screaming child. There was no consoling her, so they contacted one of the special teachers and had her take the child out of the room to try and calm her. She did eventually calm down, but I haven't heard how she has made out yet.

Another little boy, was so nervous and quiet that the teacher and others were worried about whether he was okay. In a little while the poor little one threw up! No one was sure whether he was sick or just nervous at first. But, later after eating some lunch, he threw up again, and was sent to the nurse, and then home. Poor baby, and poor teacher...two down, twenty still hanging in there.

One little fellow had been sent to school with pants which were too large in the waist. He didn't have a belt and kept having to hold them up when he walked around. The really big problem occurred when he had to go to lunch. He had to carry his own tray to the table, and that meant he couldn't hold up his pants. Well, you guessed it, as he walked along with his tray his pants fell to his ankles. There he stood, mortified, in his little boy superman underwear...poor baby. The para-pro and teacher were so tickled that they nearly dropped their own trays trying not to laugh. Finally, they walked over and pulled up his pants and took his tray as he held them up.

What a first day! I know they will have many an adventure and laugh over the school year, and those little people will learn so much. Their experienced and gentle teacher will guide them along, and they will start Kindergarden next year much more prepared and ready to face each day.