Saturday, June 7, 2008

Reminiscing: Saga of the Moon Boot

Warning: This is a tragic and somewhat disgusting tale. Not for the faint of heart (or stomach). Read at your own risk. : )

We're preparing for a little boy's arrival around here in Princess Land, and all of this preparation has stirred my own memories of being a big sister. Most are happy, but there is one memory still requiring therapy even after all of these years. : )

(Actually there are two, but I'll save the Last Electric Knight episode for another blog post)

Sometimes life just isn't fair when you are the big sister. Remember Moon Boots? Moon Boots were a must-have in our snowy Eastern Washington town during my childhood, but my poor mom was a busy school teacher who rarely had the time to pre-buy anything.
Waiting for the first snowfall, she'd look out the window and say, "Oh no, you need snow boots." The first available Saturday, we'd head to the store and find whatever pair of Moon Boots were left in our size. Year after year I'd hope for the best, but without fail, year after year, I would end up with BOY BOOTS!!!

It was painful to go to school in my ugly navy with yellow stripes boots while the other girls compared their beautiful pink, purple, or even silver boots. I dreamt of the day I would own my own GIRL BOOTS!

It didn't happen. In our small town, beautiful girl boots sold out faster than ugly boy boots.

One magical year, however, my luck changed. A few days before Christmas, we walked into K-Mart's shoe section and found a display of closeout Moon Boots. And what to my wondering eyes should appear?

A pair of Moon Boots in MY SIZE and ON SALE! These boots weren't navy blue or black or brown. It was as if the heavens opened, a ray of sunshine broke through the ceiling, and I beheld the holy grail of Moon Boots. Before me was the most beautiful, gloriously pink pair of boots I had ever seen. You'd be hard pressed to find more girlie boots than these girlie boots. They were pink! Pink boots! And they were mine!

I wished Christmas Vacation would hurry up and end so I could walk into school with my new boots. I couldn't wait to show Erin and Misty and Christy and any other girl who would appreciate my prize.

Finally! My turn had arrived! I had girl boots! : )

But patience was required because Christmas vacation had just begun.

On Christmas Eve, we drove an hour away to Grandma and Grandpa's house to celebrate. Their house was heaven on earth for two little kids. My brother, Ben, and I couldn't get enough of the presents and candies and cookies and eggnog.

I guess my little brother especially couldn't get enough, because as we drove home late that night he began to complain of a tummy ache.

"Ohhhh my tummy hurts!"

My parents assured him that he was fine and that we were almost home.

"NO! I am going to throw up!" Ben insisted.

They tried again to assure him that he just ate too much and would be fine. Then my mom heard his gagging sounds and said, "I think he really is going to throw up. Pull over Roy!"

No doubt about it, vomiting was going to happen and immediate action was required.

To this day, I can see the scene replayed in my mind's eye. I can see Dad's hand coming around from the front seat. I can see him grabbing my beautiful, brand new, never even worn to school yet, GIRL BOOTS. I can still hear him saying, "Here throw up in this."

"NO!!!!" I screamed but it was too late. To my horror, my angel brother filled not one but BOTH of my beautiful, brand new, never even worn to school yet, GIRL BOOTS!

Merry Christmas to me...

Stopping at the nearest dumpster to deposit the vomit filled boots, my mom turned around from the front seat and said, "Don't worry, Honey, we'll go to the store first thing next week and get you a new pair."

She kept her promise. The first day we could make it to the store, we picked up a new pair of Moon Boots, that were just my size.
Just my size and navy blue with yellow stripes. : )

Character Building 101 I guess. : )

I feel better getting this off my chest. : )

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh, that was hilarious. Ben may have been the source of the vomit, but Roy was the real culprit in that story! A dad could just never appreciate the importance of the pretty pink boots, could he?

Hilty Sprouts said...

Oh that is just tragic! I had the curse of the boy moon boots as well. Very ugly and very humiliating. I feel your pain.

Jen

Angie said...

I can't believe that I have never heard that story. I laughed and laughed. I agree with Kimberly...it was all Dad's fault really. :)

Anonymous said...

The things kids remember! I had no idea. Mom

Kinslee said...

I cannot feel your pain because I only have sisters.... but you made me laugh hysterically.

Katy said...

Oh Beck, I am crying right now at how hard I am laughing, Mike was laughing just as hard, from a similar experience (he won't let me give details) he can feel your pain! Thanks for the great story and the great laugh!

Emma said...

that is hilarious. if it makes you feel any better, I never got pretty pink moon boots either. I either got hand me downs, or black/navy ones.

Alyce said...

OH that was too funny!

Anonymous said...

Becky,

Doug and I are in tears -- laughing so hard. Our day has started out good, with a merry heart. Knowing your family like we do, we could totally picture this whole scenario -- your dad, your mom, your brother -- so funny. Then your mom's comment was perfect. We are always surprised to hear about the things from our children's growing up years that we had "no idea" would impact their lives. Thanks for the insightful post.

Sandy

Ali said...

Katy told me I should come over here and read this and boy, am I glad I did! I, too, could feel your pain about the boy boots. Each year I was mortified when my parents busted out the blue/brown moon boots :) Great story - and thanks for the laugh! Have a great day!

andreawilliams said...

I never even got Moon Boots and I wanted a pair SOOOO bad. Actually, I still do :)
How are you feeling?

Jami said...

That story is hilarious!! You poor thing! :)

Brooke Bumgarner Canada said...

Becky,
Your dad gave me the link to this site and I am having such a great time reading all your childhood memories, especially since I can still picture Ben exactly as you describe him! I actually have tons of pictures of you guys wearing moon boots...Ben in shorts and no shirt, everything. I have such wonderful memories of you guys. I've always felt you were more than neighbors, you were family. Prosser was a fantastic place to live being a kid, and I'm so glad we were neighbors. Our parents let us be kids, and that was the best part. I'm planning to scan a bunch of old pictures and put them on my facebook...I'll be sure to put in some doozies for you and Ben! :o)

Love,

Brooke :o)

Stacey said...

Hahahaha! What a GREAT story! Tragic, but great.

The Lazy Mom
visiting via Lazy Wed Walk from www.imalazymom.com

Valarie said...

Oh! Funny and yet I wanted to cry. As you're typing that he needs to vomit, my heart is yelling "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Character Building 101 is right. :-)

Linda said...

This story was so good. You have a talent for story telling. (Even though it was true, you still had a way of making it suspenseful and funny)

Sorry your boots were ruined. But glad you lived to tell about it...as they say! Ha! (:>)

Jenilee said...

what a story!! so sorry about your boots... that had to be just awful!! glad you got another pair though! :) thanks for linking up!