So Sarwat and I are wrapping up our tour this weekend, and it goes without saying that we've had MANY memorable moments. I'll be breaking them all down next week, but I have to say, this picture I'm about to show you? It may go down as my Favorite Thing On Tour Ever (Except For Hanging With Sarwat, and Oh Yeah, That Whole New York Times Thing.)
Picture it: There's me and Sarwat (and our delightful media escort, Brian.) We're at a lovely high school in California to do a talk about writing/our books/whatevs. We walk in, looking for the office, and immediately notice at least half a dozen of these fliers on the walls:
Now, this flier is hilarious for several reasons, none of which I probably have to point out to you. There's the use of the verb "freaking." There's the stick figure in back with his arms up like, "YES! I am freaking at a school dance! I am freaking with ABANDON!"
Then there's the other stick figure who is either like, "WOO HOO, I TOO AM FREAKING AT A SCHOOL DANCE," or is, as my friend Chantel suggested, more like, "OMG I JUST DROPPED MY QUARTER IN THE LUNCH LINE WHY IS THIS HAPPENING TO ME?!"
But my favorite thing about it is that, having been a teacher, I KNOW the amount of thought and planning that went into this flier. Trust. Nothing gets done at a big public high school without like a bajillion meetings and at least 9,000 people weighing in with their various opinions. Also, if you'll read it, you'll see that there's actually a very complex system set in place should you freak at the school dance. There are WRISTBANDS. And WARNINGS. Like, if you're freaking ONCE, they're all, "Hey. You are freaking, and that is not appropriate," and then you can be like, "My bad. The music of Jodeci overwhelmed me. I shall cease freaking and in shame, hand over my wristband so that all might know me for the freaker that I am."
Apparently, my version of events happens in 1993, which is the last time anyone listened to Jodeci.
I love this. I love everything about it. And I thought y'all might, too. :)
Until bext time, Mes Anges!
12 comments:
I have a theory that the people who left that dance with their wristbands in tact probably were not allowed to sit at the cool table on Monday. I mean, I'm almost thirty and that sign made me want to freak, solely to rebel against it. Reminds me of when I got kicked out of a dance for trying to start a mosh pit.
That just made my day, LOL
We don't have dances anymore because people were "freaking" at them. :(
-Lex :D
As a former student who *never* freaked (but who DID do a wonderful spin-at-speed, then tripped, then fell, then momentum kept spinning her so it sorta looked planned and AWESOME)--I loved a dance. Loved to dance. Loved to do the goofy-slow-dance, too. Don't know if I would have loved it with the Freakin' ----may have been too much for me. And so huzzah to the teachers and admin trying to preserve the school dance (cos yeah - the school I worked at cancelled ALL but the prom because of Freakin' and complaints about Freakin'). And huzzah also to the kids who will make it a point to lose the wristbands but NOT get kicked out of the dance. Also HUZZAH for the kids who won't. Just basically: HUZZAH, SCHOOL DANCE!
So glad I stopped by this was too fun!!!
I loved you and Sarwat visiting Blue Willow in Houston. All the girls that went with me thought you two were an absolute blast!
I'm in college now, and when I first went to parties, I'd say that "pretty much everyone was freaking." All my friends would then look at me and ask, "Uh, what is freaking?" So I'm now wondering - is it just in California that people use the word freaking or what?
OMG!!! I am practically crying from laughing so hard at your post! Thanks for making my day!! I just LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!! Not just the photo, but your blog post wording makes it even more hilarious!!
By the way - just finished Demonglass about 30 minutes ago and LOVED IT! You are so cruel to make us wait until 2012 for the next one! :)
Hi Rachel,
I guess I am one of those people who, like you, can't get over how FAQ section name sounds, so obviously, I found "no freaking at the dance" picture very much freaking :) I should ask my son if their school has something similar. After all, we're in California too...
I just read the second Hex book yesterday and was in a process of writing a review for it when I discovered your blog. I guess, that means you're getting one more stalker here and on Twitter :) I hope you don't mind, since I am mostly harmless :)
This post swayed me. Consider your blog followed.
Rachel,
Not sure if this will reach you, but I'm a h.s. librarian and wondering if you would be willing to do a SKYPE session? Please contact me at diane_mankowski@glenbard.org
Thanks! Diane
I am stalking you now thanks to this post and for Robin O'Bryant directing me here! I am freaking in my livingroom now! (It is allowed at my house).
OMG!!! I am practically crying from laughing so hard at your post! Thanks for making my day!! I just LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!! Not just the photo, but your blog post wording makes it even more hilarious!! By the way - just finished Demonglass about 30 minutes ago and LOVED IT! You are so cruel to make us wait until 2012 for the next one! :)
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