Sitting at dinner the other evening and having made one of my numerous imperious proclamations, my younger sister turns to me with a wicked glint in her eye and says, “Nobody is making me very happy.” Have you ever said something you wish you hadn’t? Of course you have. We all have. This statement, this “Nobody is making me very happy,” is the scarlet letter (or albatross, depending on your literary allusion of preference) that has haunted me since age six.
It was summer. I was visiting my uncle and auntie. My cousins – sisters, of course - had been fighting murderously all day and consequently no playing was getting done and no fun was being had. I can remember vain attempts at peacemaking and then switching strategies to throw my support behind whomever was winning at the moment. Nothing worked.
And so, I marched myself in all my indignant resplendence into the living room and, hands on hips, informed my dear auntie that “Nobody is making me very happy.”
You can imagine the laughter that followed, although I didn’t think it was very funny. And of course my aunt’s reply was something along the lines of, “Tough.”
I have never been able to live that moment down and certain family members delight in reminding me of it. Sigh.
4 comments:
Yes.... I think we've all done that kind of thing & sometimes thats what I dislike about families the most! Their ability to bring up these embarrassing situations all the time.
Hee Hee. Nothing like a younger sister to call you on it! :)
don't you just love those few phrases that your family remembers from your youth.
and they never let them go!!
one of mine is "i was just practicing!" while playing some game and wanting to start over constantly.
it is said quite often still to this day.
have a great day!
I love how you write, I can picture it all even though I have never met you in person!!
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