This is a funny memory. It is real. It is (blush) mine.
I got hired at the last minute my very first year of teaching. It was one of those, well we need you and you need a job kind of things. I really didn't want to work there. They really didn't want me, but they knew me and so there it was. Basically, the principal and I didn't see eye to eye. I was actually on vacation when she called the house three times, then tried my second emergency number (my mom) (my first being my hubby's cell phone, who is with me). So mom drives an hour to my house wondering where I am (she didn't know that our plane had been delayed for 5 hours) and why I am not home yet.
Anyway, it was only a one year contract. I didn't get rehired. I packed up my stuff in June (into my husband's loaded down truck) and brought it all home. And spent the rest of the summer going crazy trying to find a job.
Well, God and my grandpa (who's up there with him) intervened. But they were just about 2 hours off schedule.
It's August 2, 1999. School starts back up in 3 weeks and I still don't have a job. I'm in a super panic, but trying to keep myself occupied and upbeat. It was summer.
I used Henna and did a very elaborate design from about mid calf to my big toe. It was beautiful and it took hours. Unfortunately, when the time came to wash the stain material off, you couldn't see it. I had spent hours and it was amazing. Imagine my disappointment. But, never being one to give up (and I had a glass of wine), I came up with a great idea of using permanent marker. At that time, they only made black. So, I redid the entire design on my leg all the way down to my foot in permanent marker. It really did look good. Not 20 minutes later, around 5pm, I got a phone call.
Did I want to come and interview for a position tomorrow on the third grade team at --------? Well sure I did! I said yes, I'd be there at noon, when they wanted me.
Now, first off, the very next day (interview day) was my grandpa's birthday. He had helped me out a couple times with money for classes when I was "on my own" and trying to get through college. He was a super huge supporter! And the school I was applying at (same district as the other), had the word CLAY in it. Which was my grandpa's last name.
I could see all the signs. And on top of everything else, my first year mentor had just be cycled back into the classroom and would be one of my teammates if I got the job! It just couldn't have been more perfect.
Well, except for the giant black tattoo like design all over my leg making me look like some crazy woman (you also have to remember that tattoos were not so "in" at that time).
I really didn't know what to do. It was running about 95* every day. But I knew I had to wear pants to cover this "mess." I had a light colored turquoise pant suit that was appropriate enough that would cover my leg. But shoes?? Most dress shoes show the top of your foot. Mine was covered in black in design.
So I ended up wearing really dark panty hose.
Needless to say, I sweat profusely that day. But the interview was amazing. Perfect. Just meant to be.
I have been there for the last ten years. It's a terrific place with terrific people. And some of them now know this story. Because I was finally able to laugh at myself about it and share it.
So you might ask, "Well, did you learn anything?"
Yep. Watch for help from above. And good people won't judge you when you wear dark pantyhose in the dead of summer and look like a dork. :) Oh yeah, and don't tell your mother-in-law how goofy you are cause she will buy you funny memorabilia so you never forget! (see picture)
But honestly, unless someone else had done this before, how did they know to even make such a funny thing?
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