When I was 12, my mother graduated from nursing school. She had gone to the technical college near our home for the past 2 years. Despite our family having an Italian restaurant to run, my father did real estate on his days off and 3 daughters, somehow she passed. She was so proud of her accomplishment that she insisted we take out our state-of-the-art camcorder that was the size of a generator, and record her graduation and graduation party.
The next day, my parents were going out on a date. My grandparents were staying with us since they had just watched their daughter accept her diploma the day before. Before they left, I insisted I record our home. Why? Because I had just returned from Space Camp (I clearly oozed coolness as a tweener) and now had 15+ pen pals to share my world with. I was even going to Peoria, Illinois to visit one of these pen pals later that summer. I thought since she couldn’t come to my house, I would video tape it and bring it along with me.
“DO NOT touch the camcorder. You don’t know how to work it yet.,” my mother warned me. Little did she know I had A LOT of experience with the camcorder. I was pretty much on my own most of my childhood, watching my sisters all the time, and had used the camcorder on more than one occasion.
The minute she left, I turned to my grandmother, whom could watch me kill another human being and justify my actions, and said, “I’m going to video tape my house for my pen pal. Don’t tell mom.”
“Honey, are you sure you should be doing that?” She asked.
“Yeah, I’m going to do it for like 10 minutes and be done. She’ll never know.”
I knew I could count on her to let me do this. A year before, at her house, my middle sister and I played beauty shop. I began to cut G’s bangs in the dining room. When I felt they were too crooked, I cut them more….and more….and more; till she looked like a back-up singer of Flock of Seagulls.
“Listen up Perthena.” I called her by her name when I meant business. “This,” I waved my hand around, next to my now crying sister, “never happened. If they ask you what happened, just tell them you took her to the beauty shop and they really messed up.”
She snitched though. She said she didn’t and eventually my mom got the truth out of her but it’s suspicious.
So back to the camcorder story. I grabbed a VCR tape off the top of the tv. I popped it into the camcorder and off I went, video taping my 4 bedroom, 1.5 bath childhood home. It all went very fast and when I was finished I quickly took it out and pushed it into the VCR, to watch my handy work.
Just then, and only for a second, I saw my mom walk up the stairs of the stage to receive her diploma. Then the video cut to my living room as I began my house tour.
“No, no, no, no, no, no, no. Tell me I didn’t do this! Dear God, I am going to get killed!” I said out loud. My knees became weak and the thump of my heart could be heard a mile away. My mom’s temper was on par with Joan Crawford.
Not only did I disobey my mother, but I had video taped over her graduation! She hadn’t even see the tape yet!!!
I honestly can’t remember how or if I even told her what had happened but she immediately found out. All I know is she didn’t talk to me for 2 weeks and I was grounded for a good chunk of my 12th year. I blame it on the snitch.
So folks, tell me about the time you were in the most trouble of your life as a child! I can’t wait to hear these stories!!!!
This had me cracking up! Not only that, but I too went to Space Camp. Went to the Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama in 5th grade. My mom was a chaperone so I couldn’t have too much fun, but it was still awesome. Speaking of my mom, I was just talking to her and we couldn’t really think of anything I did as a kid that really peeved her off, lol. *gasp* She even said I was a good kid! I know I did some stupid things as a kid and as soon as I remember, I’ll let you know, haha.
Yes, please let me know! Omg, you went to space camp? Did you stay in the space station? That was the highlight for me.
No, I wish! We stayed at the Marriott next door. Omfg, wait til I get this photo back from my auntie. It’s worth a whole blog post by itself, lol. I was in one of their simulators and someone snapped a pic while I was upside down. Needless to say, I looked crazy. She won’t give it to me, though cause for years I’ve threatened to burn it. Ahhh, memories. Lol
When the space station was at max capacity (I can’t believe I just said that) they put us up at the Marriott. I rode that simulator and LOVED it! I loved Space Camp and not afraid to admit that! Would love to see the pic!
As soon as I can pry it from her fingers, lol.
Love it!!
My parents live on an acre and we had a golf cart that me and my brother would drive around in the yard. One day when I was taking it out, I backed it into my dad’s brand new truck and left a nice big dent on the bottom fender. Woops! I also blew the fuse box of the house one time when I tried to vacuum and flooded the laundry room when I tried to change the water filter (they have a well). Safe to say, they didn’t let me do much cleaning around the house without supervision after those incidents.
I also got caught ‘sneaking’ into the house after midnight by my dad. My high school boyfriend would come over and hang out every Friday, but he had to leave at 11pm. One night, I walked him out to his car at 11, but stayed outside makin’ out with him for an hour. After he left, I realized that my dad had locked the door like he does every night, thinking I was in bed. We kept a spare key under the porch out front, so I found that and let myself in. My dad was in the kitchen and wasn’t too happy.
You had me worried. I thought you were going to say your dad saw you making out. That would have been so freakin’ awkward!
Haha! Now I don’t know which one would be worse!
It would be mortifying!!
LMAO. Did she ever get over it? That was a once in a lifetime experience. Damn non-digital age we lived in. She could have uploaded it to YouTube and then you wouldn’t have been in this situation. Thank God technology has evolved.
She got over it, only to bring it up every so often. I couldn’t believe I carelessly did not check the VCR tape before using. Your right though. Thank GOD this isn’t an issue anymore.
I never really got into trouble as a kid. I was an angel.
QUIT LAUGHING.
Only thing I can think of is when I wrote all over my Reading paperwork how much I hated the teacher’s class AND the teacher. She called my mom…who shrugged and said to me, “I don’t really like her either.” LMAO
Priceless!!! Omg! Love that your mom sided with you!!!
Well, that teacher should have retired about fifty years before I hit her class….I’ve mostly had awesome teachers, but there’s duds in every profession….