Wednesday, January 6, 2010

The Mind of an 8-Year Old

I spent about 4 hours in my sewing studio today working on a gift for one of my daughter's friends and since it isn't finished yet, I don't have any pictures to share. Instead, I thought I'd share a little tale with everyone.

I went to live with my maternal grandmother when I was eight years old after my mother died. My uncle, who was about seventeen years old and a senior in high school, also lived with us. We lived in a large colonial home in Tacoma, Washington on the top of a hill overlooking the Commencement Bay. In fact, I had a picturesque view of the water. Truly a Kodak moment.

My uncle would use a double-edged razor to shave with and I must have watched him shave a hundred times or more. I don't recall any particular thoughts racing through my mind as I watched but then again, do we ever really know what goes on inside an eight year old's mind?

One day, for whatever reason, I decided to shave. Of course, I didn't have any facial hair like my uncle, so I did the next best thing... I shaved my arms! Not my underarms, but my forearms. Imagine, if you can, an eight year old shaving using a double-edged razor without using any shaving cream. After I managed to shave both of my forearms I happened to spot a can of Right Guard (do they even make Right Guard anymore?) and decided to spray it on both forearms. OMG! Don't ever spray something with alcohol in it on your freshly, shaved with a double-edged razor and without shaving cream forearm. I was on fire!

They say you learn from your mistakes. I've learned its OK to laugh at yourself and share those laughs with others.

So, what tales do you have to share?

10 comments:

Unknown said...

oh Dena, that's hilarious. I drank that purple medicine when I was little, mom said i thought it was grape juice. it's called violet of bismoth, or something like that. it's stains too....

luv2quilt2 said...

What a cute story! I was never really interested in my dad shaving, but loved to watch my grandfather who shaved on the back porch.

Loralynn said...

Too funny! I remember being fascinated by watching shaving too at that age. I wonder if it is a stage that most girls go through? Thanks for sharing such a cute story!

JoAnn ( Scene Through My Eyes) said...

Ouch!!! Great story - almost made me spit my cereal on the monitor screen.

Micki said...

I also enjoyed the story Dena..very humourous indeed!
Micki

andsewon said...

Oh my poor lil thing I know that burned for sure.
How about if you thought your Dad's 'chocolate' in the ice box was candy and decided to eat the tiny bar...was Ex-lax!!!!
My poor Mama was afraid I had developed a deadly flu!!! The home nurse asked what I had ate I said candy...Daddy's candy!;-)
Yes lil kids bear watching!

Anonymous said...

Oh my! These stories are a riot! I sure feel for you, Dena - OUCH! LOL

Bari

Bia, from Brazil said...

Nice that you have a story like this to tell. Tks for sharing.

webbsway said...

O Dena, losing your Mom at such an early age was terrible. That would have killed me at that age-because I truly adored my Mom. My heart goes out to you.

Let me share a story with you. When I was about 8 too - it was one terribly hot summer day and we were out from school. I was a tom boy and spent every minute I could outdoors. I was really hot and dieing of thirst so I bounded indoors to the fridge because Mama kept ice water in there. It was in a different container than usually but I turned it up and gulped down a big swig . My Eyes popped out and my face turned blue!

My Dad had put his moonshine in there ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I never wanted another swig of that again , as long as I lived. Since my mouth was on fire - I can relate to your arms on fire ! ~smile thank goodness you didn't whack them off! When you hear people say you are only young , Once - that might be a good thing. LOL

Jocelyn said...

What a sweet story. Funny the things we think to do when we are young. And yes it is good that we can laugh about them :-)