What Infamous Superstitions Spook You?
Today, I am not a superstitious person. That was not always the case. I still remember as a child avoiding the breaks between pieces of concrete. The old saying was, “Step on a Crack, Break Your Mother’s Back.” Thankfully, I must have missed enough of them to ensure her back was uninjured. Although it was long ago, I am certain I was fearful of checking under my bed for monsters too. Again, I was blessed not to be devoured by some horrible beast lurking there. Oddly enough, I never had that fear of monsters in my closet. Interesting.
As I got a bit older, I had more than enough true evil-doers to make me the introvert I am to this day. We’ve all been there. It’s called Junior High! Argh, not again!
Then I arrived in HIgh School. Good Lord, protect us. Actually, it was not that bad. I was firmly the person I am to this day. I had a circle of friends, and that was enough for me. Sure, I ogled the cheerleaders, but they were out of my league. For the first three years, I attended Vanden High School, which was located just outside the fences of Travis AFB near Fairfield, CA. I was certain I would finish high school there. Nope.
My father was given an assignment to the US Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He had to do one year of training first at Kessler AFB in Biloxi, MS. So, my senior year was in a brand new school. What fun, right?
Mississippi turned out to be a great state, even though Biloxi still showed damage from the last big hurricane. I was instantly saying y’all like everyone else. I was born at Barksdale AFB in Shreveport, LA, so I had an affinity for the South. I still love biscuits and sausage gravy, although I don’t eat pork anymore. My stomach cannot handle it now.
I had a fairly large circle of friends, of whom about one-third were other Air Force brats like me. Don’t get me started on the peel-and-eat shrimp cooked with Old Bay. I am drooling a bit even thinking about it now.
I have two memories of those days to share.
My English teacher was a miraculous lady named Mrs. Bankston. She supported my desire to write (poetry in those days). No adult had ever done that before. Of course, in that same class, one of the most gorgeous cheerleaders sat right behind me. One day in class, she asked, “Mrs. Bankston, what’s an adjective?” The teacher and I were equally shocked. Unfortunately, the class had to endure a rehashing of the forms of speech. The cheerleader who asked the question was a senior too.
My civics teacher was a young woman named Ms. Trussel. She had to be right out of college. She looked not much older than her students. There were three cheerleaders in that class, along with one of my best friends (who later became an anesthesiologist). I bet he knew what an adjective was. Anyway, Ms. Trussel gave us a speech that it was vital that we take notes on the lecture and do our reading assignments in our textbook. Immediately, she began lecturing directly out of the textbook. I was following her by reading from mine. Still, the cheerleaders and most of the class were feverishly taking notes.
I will never forgot looking at my friend’s face. He too was smiling from ear to ear.
Life is such an amazing journey. Sometimes, our voyage requires a brief layover so we can see the silliness that most of our fellow travelers endure. Perhaps the greatest superstition is that we all live similar lives.
I’m selectively superstitious. I always put my right shoe on first and never wear a new shirt before I wash it. 🤷♀️
I’m selectively superstitious, too, Karen. I always put the tennis ball in my right pocket if I hit an “out” serve with it, and make sure I don’t use it on my second serve. I don’t wear new shirts before I was them, either. Beyond that, I can’t think of anything that makes me superstitious. No triskaidekaphobia here!
Wanda and Karen, I think we all have little superstitions. We are told these things as children, and they stick with us. It’s just part of life, and caution is not a bad thing most of the time.
I still don’t go under ladders…!
John, I hate ladders in general. I avoid climbing at all if not absolutely necessary. Where I live, these workers are hustling up 20 foot ladders and working on the roofs. That terrifies me. Thankfully, that is their job and not mine.
My dad was stationed in Vicksburg, MS, for three years so ya’ll is part of my vocabulary as well. My dad actually retired from the military because, had he stayed in, I would have had my senior year most like in a foreign country. Still, I went to seven schools in twelve years. I always felt the DODD schools were much more advanced that the public and private schools I attended.
Yvette M Calleiro 🙂
http://yvettemcalleiro.blogspot.com
Yvette, I always attended public schools. They were quite good back then (60s & early 70s). At least in California, that has changed dramatically, and not for the good. When I see video of parents trying to fix the schools, I have great hope for the future. It is hard to believe too many districts believe parents should be kept out of education. That is never a good sign for the future.
As I public school teacher for 26 years, I can tell you that in my area, parents are never out of the equation. I think the media and some political entities want to paint public schools as the enemy, when the reality is that we are usually begging parents to be more active in their children’s schooling. There are so many parents who have checked out and tell us they have no clue what their child does when they are in school. Grades, attendance, and assignments are online for parents to see daily. Teachers are but an email away. Of course, I can’t speak for the whole USA, but I would caution you to be weary of those stories. At least in my county and those surrounding me, it is quite the opposite.
Yvette, I believe you live in Florida. That is one of the states that handles public education well. Trust me, in places like California, the teachers’ union think they get to make the rules and parents should stay quiet. It is also very true that too many parents have checked out on their children’s education. That is despicable in my view. But folks will be folks
Karl, I had to laugh at your classroom tales. I guess ogling cheerleaders has nothing to do with whether they know what adjectives are, but did you still feel she was out of your league? And the fact that you and your friend were the only ones who noticed the teacher was reading the textbook, after she told the class to take notes, was hilarious. Maybe she was just out of school herself.
Like Yvette, when I finally got to attend an American school in Europe, I found the education to be top notch. We attended public schools in the States and in our first two years in Europe…one in Germany, in German, and one it Italy, in Italian. I much preferred the DoD schools.
Blessings,
Patty
https://www.ptlperrinwrites.com
Patty, you are right. I never thought of cheerleaders the same after that. Of course, I am certain there are very smart ones out there, probably the majority, but not that year in that place. Cheerleaders are always out of touch for regular students. The football team generally has first choice. I have also attended some great public schools. I know Biloxi was going through a problematic phase at that time. As I mentioned, a huge hurricane hit there a year or two before I arrived. Storms of that magnitude take a toll on the city. All in all, it was a fun and very enlightening experience.
Even though you hated moving when your father was reassigned, but it made you the person you are today. Staying in one place for your childhood and into adulthood can be boring.
Thanks for the kind thought, Susanne. My childhood was what it was. My parents both lived close to where they were born for their early lives. That was their normal. Moving every 3 or 4 years became my normal. I’ve lived here in San Diego for 40 years. I think I like stability better.
Hi Karl! I wasn’t a cheerleader, but rather a pom-pom girl. All I can tell you is I definitely knew what an adjective was back in high school. Lol!!! By the way, the shrimp with Old Bay is making my mouth water! 🙂
Best wishes,
Donna M Atwood
D M Atwood
https://www.dmatwood.com
Donna, that was the Gulf Coast of Mississippi in the early 70s. It was definitely a unique set of circumstances and people. I loved every minute and still treasure those memories. My world changed when I attended the University of Iowa that fall. It was a different, albeit familiar, world.
Hi,Karl,
How far you have come is wonderful, and yes, life is an amazing journey.
Shalom Aleichem
Karl, at least you got to see the world before you were ready, even though it was unsettling at times. You did pretty good though, with your small circle of friends you managed to cultivate.
I had my suspicions about Friday the 13th until I grew out of it. I was afraid of the boogey man in the closet and a monster under my bed. Thank God I had a sister to sleep with and a brother when we were too little to know who we were.
Shirley, in one of my first posts, I mentioned how I could sense the “other side” as a child. I think it was that connection that kept me from many superstitions. I have been faithful since those days.