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Question for you…

When you were growing up, did your mom  ever do or say anything that made you think, ‘I’m going to have to ask her about that one day when she can’t yell at me for asking about it?’ I have quite a few of these tucked away.

When we were growing up, we didn’t use plastic garbage bags in the kitchen trash. We used the brown paper bags that the groceries came in, tucked inside the kitchen trash can, then when they got full, pulled them out, then dumped into those larger black trash bags that went out by the curb for the garbage man to pick up. We could fit about 4 brown bags of trash into the larger plastic bags.

You can imagine that picking up a flimsy brown paper bag that had been collecting all sorts of kitchen scraps and trash from 5 people for a couple of days – it can get pretty wet & nasty. Just try and pick it up to get it into the larger plastic bag without it breaking. One day I had what I thought was a *brilliant* solution: put the empty plastic garbage bag over the top of the kitchen garbage can, then flip it all over. I could only do this with an empty plastic bag. After that I would tilt the kitchen garbage can sideways into the plastic bag, then pick it up and turn it over upside down. (Are you getting all this??) I was so pleased, no more broken bags or mess.

Then one day, not long after implementing my new method, my mom told me I couldn’t do it that way anymore.  Why?!

‘Because then all the germs on are the bottom of the plastic bag.” What?! What does that mean?

“Why does that matter, mom?! It’s garbage, we are throwing it away, the germs are in the bag whether it’s on top or on the bottom!”

“Just do it the other way.” End of discussion. My mom was a yeller, a grounder, a woman that you were not allowed to discuss anything with, so – case closed.

Last time I was home, I decided to ask her about it. She can’t yell or ground me now for questioning authority. She said she had no idea what I was talking about. Then she pulled out the whole “I don’t remember that at all, I don’t think I ever said that.”

Translation:  ‘I’m not taking ownership of that slice of whack even if I do remember saying it!’. I know there are many things we don’t recall from way back when, but I also honestly believe there is plenty we do remember but do not want to take ownership.

(And then comes: “Are you making this up?” Really. If I were going to make something up, this wouldn’t be it.)

It is a handy reply, maybe I will pull that one someday myself.  I have other family members that love to use it, too. Who can argue with it? I’m willing to bet it won’t be the last time I hear it, either.

Note: I must remind you, I have a pretty good memory. As one of my sisters once said in 1997, after putting on a cassette tape of mine that she filched from me in 1986 (but never owned up to) and I called her out on it, “Sometimes your memory is too good, not always a good thing.” I agree with her, but it can come in handy.

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1. 

   Tiffany's Toy Box

   June 7, 2011 at 12:50 pm

   I have a WHOLE LOTTA stories I need to call my mom on, but my mom was (and is still) a yeller too…not sure I wanna test her even though I am grown with kids of my own! LOL!! Proud of ya for going head-to-head with your momma!
   xo
   Tiffany

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