In applying to be a chaperone for a high school choir tour, I am being asked to evaluate myself based on some interesting criteria. Some of it has to do with being a responsible adult. I think I can fudge my way through those tough questions. But the part that's got me stuck is the section that deals with, in essence, being cool enough not to ruin the tour for the kids. It got me thinking...
I finally came to the realization this morning, that, despite my best efforts to the contrary, I am a geek. Of course I've the clues have been evident all along, some subtle, some not so much. Like those times when you say something that sounds socially acceptable in your head, but comes out all wrong and leaves you feeling stupid. It doesn't even matter if no one else noticed it was uncool. You still scream at yourself in your head, "I am the biggest geek" and bang your sorry head into the wall over and over and over (one of the first signs of geekness, to be sure).
Maybe the litmus test for geekness versus coolness could be one's reaction to the movie "Napoleon Dynamite." If themes in the movie resonated with you, you must contain some degree of genetic geekness. If you "got it" and reveled in the redemption at the end of the movie, you're a true-blooded geek. But if you failed to laugh out loud or are one of those who said, "This is the stupidest movie I ever saw," you are either too cool to care or too old to understand the universal struggle between geek vs. cool.
In high school--and even in college--I was only fringe geek. I could be friends with everyone and anyone. I was tolerated and liked by the cool faction--even allowed to participate in "cool" events--but never allowed to be a full-fledged member. Although I do still get an occasional Christmas card from some of my cool friends. Maybe it's because I went to a small high school. Maybe it's a bit easier to hang on the fringe when the same people are the jocks, the brainiacs and the student body officers. Maybe being one of the few who stayed sober and virginal gave me some iota of cool factor--it made me just weird enough to be interesting. Who knows?
But whatever the reason, I have to admit it. Those days on the fringe are long over. Since I've spent the last 20 years of my life far removed from the "in" crowd, busy acquiring a mini-van and a mortgage, my frump factor has soared. I no longer even merit fringe benefits. I have achieved full-fledged geekness.
Which brings me back to my self-evalutaion. How should I rate myself on a scale of 1-10? Cool teenagers who know me do speak to me when spoken to. Only some of them look the other way when I drive my mini-van up to the pick-up lane at Provo High. Some will even wave or say "Hi!" in the halls of Provo High, but only if no one is looking. None of my high school-age children has outright forbidden me from stepping foot in the school (YET). Maybe this will qualify me to chaperone the choir tour. I don't know. I'll keep you posted...
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
9 comments:
you already have kids in high school? where have i been? oh yeah, the black hole called rexburg.
I would have to say that you aren't a geek, but every teenager thinks that parents are geeky, so i don't really know what you rate yourself as.
well believe it...Zack is a freshman and Luke is a sophomore. I can't believe it either. So, does that mean you don't think I'd ruin the choir tour? They are going to Disneyland, and I sort of think I have a moral obligation to witness--even if it's rather nonchalantly and from afar--my kid's first time at Disneyland. (And as much as I'd rather go to Sea World myself, I do have fond childhood memories of the Pirates of the Caribbean).
I say go to disneyland. Besides, it's only high school. Soon your boys will discover that high school really isn't the end.
Just to be on the safe side, make sure to avoid singing along to the Pirates of the Caribbean theme song while you're on the ride.
I'm sure that our friendly neighborhood watch could give you some lessons in teenage "cool-ness"--she seems to get along well with the younger set. And, for what it's worth, I think you are totally cool. You support your kids in their activities AND you make it to Girls' Night Out. No one could be any better. :-)
If going to girls night out makes you cool then sign me up.
WHAT??? NOT sing along with "Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me!"? Sorry. I for one am not willing to go that far to not be a geek. In fact, at our house we celebrated Talk-Like-a-Pirate Day just a few weeks ago. They be merry times, matey. Aaargh!
And sorry, Kactiguy, being married to one cool enough to go to Girl's Night Out will just have to be enough for you. No men allowed, even with dinners. ;)
Oh, and what exactly were the geek-rating questions on the chaperone sign-up anyway? I'm anxious to know where I would fit on the geek scale.
And I totally got Napoleon. Anyone who hasn't experienced the universal struggle between geek and cool is just too self-centered to realize that there are universal struggles. I think most people can identify with our flawed hero. I know I can.
My word verification is 'snikcs'. Is that something you eat?
I doubt it, but maybe you'd like some pineapple chunks?
mmmmmmmm.
Post a Comment