When I was seven years old, I had one of the most mortifying  experiences of my young life. No matter how many years go by, this event is scorched into my memory- even now as I write this, my cheeks are starting to burn with embarrassment by just remembering it.

On this day, I got all dressed up and went with my dad to a play at the local children’s theatre. My mom stayed home with my sister who was just a baby at the time, so it was just me and my dad- a lovely father daughter outing. At intermission we went out in the courtyard to enjoy a brownie and some lemonade from the snack stand then I decided to join a bunch of other kids in walking around the edge of the courtyard fountain. Big mistake. Trying to show off, I climbed to the top ring of the fountain to walk along its slippery, brick edge. Then I fell in. Sputtering and drenched, I was hauled from the fountain by various grownups while other kids (many that I knew from school) looked on and laughed their behinds off.  Continue reading →