My inability to follow directions carries over into my blogger life as well. There are these chain-awards out there that instruct recipients to link things, answer questions, nominate people, and provide urine samples. While it's always nice to be nominated, I'm just way too lazy and unfocused to follow through.
The same applies to blog hops, blog challenges, and weekly prompts. Yet when one of my very favorite people in the whole world, Andrea from Maybe It's Just Me, personally asked that I participate in the My So-Called Teenage Life Blog Hop, I couldn't say no.
The premise was pretty easy, but the humiliation potential was limitless. I needed to locate some of my high school poetry and share it with the world. I was also encouraged to include a photo from those wonderfully big-haired high school years:
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| Me and my date, "George Glass." |
At the time, I thought I was a genius. It was for a sophomore year homework assignment. It might have even been for extra-credit because I was just that big of a nerd.
The Life of Riley
-Marianne aged 15
Every day I eat my Cherry Pop Tarts
and race outside before the bus departs.
Heading to first hour geometry -
I botched my proofs, please do not call on me!
At gym I've lost my uniform again,
I'm no mental threat to those three wise men.
I am so sick of reading "The Jungle."
And yet there's still my paper to bungle.
Every day, it is exactly the same:
I've got ugly braces, my clothes are lame.
My friends all seem to walk a path of clear,
while I'd rather skip this entire year.
The kids I babysit for are so gross.
No babies for me! I've had my full dose.
Finally, I find some solace at night,
here in my Raggedy Ann room, I write.
I take careful note of all good and bad,
figuring my English teacher quite mad.
Iambic pentameter grade's unknown.
My GPA? Most definitely BLOWN.
Why I did not receive more college scholarships for such obvious poetry talent is beyond me. My thoughts now? I still like Pop Tarts, I was a whiny teenager, and I hope all my early English teachers know what a wonderful impact they made on my life.
So there you go, Andrea. And remember: Bloggy pay-back is a bitch. Stay tuned.
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| The sole vestiges of my high school room are now proudly on display in my sons' bedroom. The boys, for whatever reason, don't seem to like them. |
Oh. Em. Gee. When Andrea asked me to participate, I thought "NO WAY!" But you have may just given me the courage.
ReplyDeleteJust do it!! It was a lot more fun than I thought it would be!
DeleteRaggedy Ann Raggedy Ann
ReplyDeleteCome down from the wall
Help her sons put things together
And put new things up on their wall
These aren't just right in any weather
Help our clutz
With all the fuss
Give her the guts
Give her directions
To pass our inspection.
Hugs,
Carol
Now why aren't you doing this hop, Carol??? You're a natural!
DeleteOfda! Glad I wasn't your high school teacher and responsible for that awkward period for you. Also ometimes my spelling or typos are horrible. I am a clutz at spelling "klutz" and then my Internet went out this morning and I had to go to work. This is my excuse and I am sticking by it. Hubby had to let the cable guy in to fix the Internet.
DeleteI will try the hop after I make dinner here tonight or maybe tomorrow. This will mean you expect ME to follow directions?!
Under duress from you I did it. But no one can be as funny as you are. I do have a funny picture up, though. It may only stay up for several hours and I hope that Andrea doesn't see it and link it.
DeleteI adored your post, Carol! You were a brave girl to join! I'm sending you cyber cookies (because you know I can't actually bake, right?). xoxo Mar
DeleteJust when I thought I couldn't love you any more! Now that this is public, I can only assume you will be displacing Maya Angelou at the next big event where people need to be moved to their feet! Long live big hair! p.s. at least you don't have to wonder what the boys have nightmares about
ReplyDeleteI'm like the girl version of Monster from the Muppets. THANK YOU for making me do this, Andrea! It was actually a hoot.
DeleteYour prom date looks suspiciously like MY prom date.....hmmmmm....
ReplyDeleteDon't tell me George was a two-timing weasel!!!
DeleteGood lord, Marianne, I wish I was half as lovely in my "horrible" high school pictures half as lovely as you in yours.
ReplyDeleteThe poetry, I'll admit, was bad. But most fifteen year old poetry is ;)
What? I thought I was the poet laureate. Bad?? :)
DeleteThank you for the kind words. My much cooler sister did my hair that day. Let's just say she never met a back-comb she didn't like.
Dang it - I wish I'd had a much cooler sister. I had an older brother who probably snickered every time I left the house looking the way I did.
Delete(And scratch that second "half as lovely" would you? Not that you're not lovely, but I'm kicking myself for my lack of editing :P)
Have you ever worried that those Raggedy Things may disengage from their mounts on the wall at night and try to harm your family?
ReplyDeleteWell NOW I do! (;
DeleteI'm not looking at the big hair so much as I noticed the big, puffy sleeves! Though compared to some other fashions of the era (like those huge lace collars), they're not that bad.
ReplyDeleteYour poem sounded kind of like the stuff I wrote at that age, before I realized poetry doesn't always have to rhyme.
The huge lace collars! What I wouldn't give for one of those!! And what do you mean "poetry doesn't have to rhyme?" That's crazy talk. (;
DeleteI was just going to mention that those Raggedy creatures might haunt your children's nightmares, but someone has seen the same movies as me!
ReplyDeleteI think I am the only one who loves them. Poor glass creatures. Thanks for visiting!
DeleteOh my gosh...too funny! :) I completely love that poem- so very dramatic and so much teenage bitterness with having to do an English Lit. assignment...(I think...???) And your poor children- those hangings are so...well...
ReplyDeleteBest:)
I think my pictures are going to need therapy after all this. Thank you so much for reading & commenting!!
Deleteha ha ha! You know, I think big hair is making a come back. :) And you and George make a cute couple! I love!! This poem is just so ... I have no words!!
ReplyDeleteSo much talent, right? I don't know if I'd even remember how to get my hair that big anymore. God bless the 1980s. Thanks for visiting!!
DeleteYou and George look great. You still keep in touch, right?? :))
ReplyDeleteAnd wow - those plaques are arrestingly scary.
I'm the reason George will never marry. He torches for me. (; Thanks for popping in!
DeleteWow I can't follow directions so I make up my own. Waste a lot of gas going to the grocery store. I remember my 15 year old poem too, but it wasn't like yours. imagine that.
ReplyDeleteI don't think anybody's work could compare to my clearly savant poetry abilities.
DeleteSo when you gonna post it????
Ah so much awesome in this post. I take it you took back your words about having had your fill of children once yours were born? And I wish my high school formal date was as dashing as yours was. The things I would do for a date with George Glass...
ReplyDeleteI just may have reconsidered my stance on kids, singlemum! Funny how things change. Take George for instance. (;
DeleteWhat is it with kids not liking Raggedy Ann?
ReplyDeleteI have a cherished 3' RA doll from my childhood. My 6 yr old daughter asked me to put it away, like in the closet so she couldn't see it. (This request had been made multiple times). And my 8 yr old son liked to use it as a WWE wrestling partner that he body slams into the floor.
These kids have no respect for the classics.
I am so with you, Suzi. And don't even get me started on how they feel about Holly Hobbie!! Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteWell, that George is such a scamp. What a hairdo! I chopped my big hair off right before prom. It was awesome.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite line is 'here in my Raggedy Ann room, I write'!
Love it!
You were a visionary, Tina Lou! I wish someone would've talked me into a less cringe-worthy cut before prom!
DeleteAnd I'm still all about Raggedy Ann. That girl had spunk.
How HOT were you!! Even with the big hair and ruffles...not that I'm saying that you're not hot now, which you are...and now it sounds like I'm back peddling, so ima gonna shut up now.
ReplyDeleteDarn funny post as always. :)
Please don't shut up, Lily. Go on. You were saying something about me being hot?
Delete(; Thank you!
That poem was all sorts of awesome! It has so much voice :-) And I love that you included a picture. I would have had to hook up the scanner--too much work--so I didn't post one yesterday. Love it!
ReplyDeleteI have suddenly gotten so much better with the scanner. The end must be near. Thank you for visiting!
DeleteDitto what Lily said! You lookin HOT Marianne! And George being your date? WOW,who knew ;)
ReplyDeleteThat was such an awesome high school poem. Totally brought me back to my creative writing class.
You would've made fun of me in high school, J.R. I know you were cool. Don't lie.
DeleteI think I'm still wearing my retainer in that pic!
Andrea is a genius.
ReplyDeleteI keep hoping that big hair comes back in style since mine does that "naturally" while I am sleeping. I totally didn't appreciate the big hair days of my teenage years enough while they were happening.
I LOVED that poem. :) It definitely gave a great picture of you as a teen. And oh, I remember the hair. Good times.
ReplyDeleteDo you know that Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet in iambic pentameter? His plays were presented to be listened to - no sets, no blocking, no complications other than costume, which defined the character being portrayed.
ReplyDeleteI rather like your poem. It has merit - and a bit of character that an audience would enjoy, I'm sure. It just needs to be longer.
I rather like you, too. And your family. Your husband and sons are great. (especially Jack - but don't tell him I said so.) You have a lovely family and I am proud to have met you.
I love the photo (and the Brady Bunch reference) and the poem is hilarious and full of details that really paint a time and place. It may have accidentally been much better than you suspect. ;)
ReplyDelete