Monday, December 1, 2008

"9th Grade Blog Squad"


Mostly, I try to avoid trends (unless they involve stilettos or purses) but like a fat kid to cake or Dr. Phil to drama, I inevitably end up in the middle of the herd with everyone else. This avoidance of trends is not generated by a noble principle; such as a desire to be an individual and resist conformity. No, unfortunately this avoidance comes from a desire to never be the fool. A fool would be the one who either can't quite execute the trend properly and should just give up or obviously picked a trend that would just become a fading fad and one that Vh1 would discuss on I love the 90's etc. That's right from kissing tag in kindergarten to Milli Vanilli in seventh grade and so on I have almost always monitored the staying power of a trend or I have made sure I can execute the trend perfectly before I jump on the band wagon. Some trends I misjudged; obviously Milli Vanilli would be one...blaming the rain and everything. Others trends have become timeless such as kissing tag....partners just aren't as timeless. But to further my point of this disease of fence sitting and not owning my opinion I will give you an old school example of my futile efforts.

In ninth grade I had some friends/class mates that decided to cheer lead for our small football team. I, of course, was "too cool" for the cheerleaders and proceeded to make fun of them throughout the football season. They were an inexperienced and awkward cheer squad and I made sure my closest friends knew it. However, if truth be told, I think I actually made fun of them because there was a small part of me that was afraid that if I tried to join in I would look like a fool. Yeah, that's right folks... "sweet" Katie is admitting to making fun of others to make up for her own inadequacies...strange I know none of you do that, right? Well I can't say that I made those girls on the cheer squad exactly fond of me by the end of football season.

Fast forward to four months later that year, it was time for cheer try-outs for the high school sophomore squad and of course I wouldn't be caught dead trying out, however I had a really good friend, Holly, that somehow thought I should try-out with her, for moral support. At first I said no and was more opposed to it than Richard Simmons is opposed to pants and a good hairstylist. Unfortunately, however, Holly was aware that with Katie all you need to do it persist, persist, persist and I will undoubtedly give in. Such was the case with cheer try-outs. After weeks of practice and 60 girls cut I actually made the 8 girl sophomore squad (that's right I gave the stats of how tough the competition was....tooting my own horn...I know).

Unfortunately, my fellow cheerleaders recalled my ranting and heckling earlier that school year and as you can imagine I spent a good portion of my sophomore year eating my words, which didn't taste too well. However looking back it made for a good story and taught me that "don't knock it till you try it" could be a phrase to live by.

The first time I heard about blogging and blogspots they pretty much had the equalvilant of the 9th grade cheer squad, in my eyes. The awkward formations, bad uniforms and inexperienced members of the blog squad had me back to my old mocking ways. However, once again, a good friend and secret desire to try it has led me here. So sit back and enjoy some mediocre toe touches, adequate tumbling passes and thankfully some serious sass....garnished with a little crazy.



3 comments:

Charlotte Lundell said...

at least your admitting it now. maybe you should write about wanting to be a redhead.

Unknown said...

I game for the mediocre toe touches...you're hilarious Katie!

Melinda Jones said...

Love the post, but I need more deep thoughts from Katie. Where are you?