As a kid, I wasn’t terrified of the dark. I didn’t lose sleep over bugs or monsters. It wasn’t until I was a teenager and read the book “The Exorcist” that I was scared to be in a room alone. I didn’t have to be afraid that I wouldn’t have a home or food to eat. I was fortunate… I hope you were too.
What I was most afraid of was being embarrassed. Crazy, right?
Sure, I was afraid of getting in trouble when I did stupid kid stuff, but I knew I’d live through the consequences. What I didn’t think I could survive was being self-conscious and distressed… embarrassed.
As just one example… when I was in Kindergarten there was a square dance thing planned that was to be held in the gym for all families to attend. I remember my dance partner was the local pharmacist’s son and as we practiced at school and held hands to dance his were stinky. Over 50 years later, I still remember those stinky hands… they must’ve been horrific, right?
I started dreading the “big event” at the onset. But not the parents and grandparents! They couldn’t wait to see my awesome performance. (Or at least I thought so at the time… before I had to attend my own kid’s school functions.)
About a week beforehand, my pap-pa told me that while I was performing in the gym in front of all my classmates and their families he was going to stand up, take his teeth out (he wore dentures), and yell:
“THAT’S MY GRANDDAUGHTER!”
I was so tore down I didn’t want to go to school anymore much less do some yee-haw square dance in front of everyone with ole’ stinky hands! I was TERRIFIED of being EMBARRASSED!
As you think about your early childhood — what scared you most?
And finally — in COVID related news and info…
The Biden administration is expected to advise Covid booster shots for most Americans. The timeline is said to start in September. I would be due a booster on December 1 — and I’m good with that. Yes, I’ll boost up… and yes, I’ll get a flu shot too.
The US is pretty much all red (high risk level) again with Florida in the worst shape currently. Nevada is barely higher than Indiana holding state slots 24 and 25 respectively. Indiana State Department of Health’s reported numbers (which aren’t the same as what CDC reports) have Perry’s work county in the highest red bracket. Jackson County is yellow while Scott and Bartholomew are Orange and Jennings is red.
TIL (Today I Learned): The Exorcist was the first horror film to be nominated for the Academy award for Best Picture. The MPAA ratings board thought the film deserved to be rated X, but accommodated Warner Brothers by giving it an R-rating. Some viewers suffered fainting and vomiting and others reported miscarriages and heart attacks.