It’s official. I have no shame.July 3rd, 2007 @ 7:01 am
You know how some people leave high school with a legacy? Maybe they were voted Most Likely to Succeed, Best Dressed, or Most School Spirit. By now you guys know how I roll and know that I did not get anything like that.
Homecoming Week in high school was always filled with good times. Things like Spirit Day, where everyone wore the school colors and painted their faces, or Sophomore Slaves, where sophomores were auctioned off to the highest bidder. Of course there was also the Homecoming game and the Homecoming dance at the end of the week.
During Homecoming Week my junior year they had a Leg Hair Growing Contest. I was pretty confident in my leg-hair-growing abilities. The rule was that you had to enter on Monday during the lunch hour. You had to be clean shaven.
I wasn’t sure if I would still be clean shaven by lunch time. That would be a good four hours from the time I shaved in the morning. I knew my leg hair and I knew a lot could happen in those four hours.
Thankfully enough the judges deemed me clean shaven enough to enter the contest. I had until Friday to prove that my leg hair could grow faster than anybody else in my high school.
Let’s the games begin.
I wasn’t really sure how to ensure my leg hair would grow at it’s usually alarming rate. I would lotion it every morning and use kind words when speaking to it. I asked my mom, the nurse, if she knew of an ointment I could apply to make it grow faster? She didn’t. I didn’t want to take any chances. I did not want to lose.
For reasons that still perplex me, I was not embarrassed by any of this. I happily shared my quest with anybody who was interested, or not interested. I wore shorts every day that week and never tried to hide the ever growing pelt on my legs.
(My lack of embarrassment towards all of this may be the reason I wasn’t actually asked to the Homecoming dance. Instead of attending, I stayed home and helped Marci get ready for her date to the dance. There is even a picture to prove that I stayed home. Alone. Poor me.)
(And also, how awesome is Marci’s dress? If I remember correctly, her mom made it.)
Friday during lunch was the end of the contest. All those competing were to report to the gym, along with anyone who wanted to witness the awards ceremony. All my friends were there to cheer me on, as well as my dad, (who also taught at my high school) and my mom.
All those who entered stood in a line. We were asked to lift up our pant legs and show off our hair. I was wearing shorts, so it was quite obvious how long my hair was.
There was no contest. I was the winner. I bet out other girls, I beat out big hairy football players. It was all me, baby.
My prize was a curling iron. They told me I could use it on my leg hair. I didn’t care what the prize was. I had won. My mom thought it was all pretty hilarious. She told me she was very proud of me. I think she may have actually meant it.
That’s it. That’s my legacy. I can grow some mean leg hair.
So tell me, what is your legacy from high school? Were any of you actually voted Most Likely to Succeed? Or maybe, is there someone out there with a legacy equal to mine?
I rock · Back in the day
FunnyGal KAT
said,
July 3, 2007 at 4:30 pm
I can’t believe I’m about to admit this, but I was also in a leg hair-growing contest in high school! Except it wasn’t a schoolwide activity. A couple of us girls decided to do it to get back at our boyfriends, who had some bet going where they had to wear the same shirt everyday for more than a month.
I definitely didn’t win the leg hair contest, but grew enough to be grossed out by it.
Congrats on the win!
Operation Pink Herring
said,
July 3, 2007 at 4:39 pm
This is why we’re friends. I haven’t shaved my legs in almost 6 years. I just can’t do it. The feeling of stubble under pants… *shudder*
I do wax them, but not as often as I “should”. I sport fully grown leg hair most of the time, and I don’t care. Life’s too short to shave every day.
My friends tried to vote me “Most Daring” in high school, but I didn’t win. When I think of some of the stuff I did… I don’t know where I got the guts. It was all stupid stuff, like sneaking out of gym class and driving to the bakery for bagels or taking my “cut card” to kinkos to have it copied on exactly the same yellow paper the school handed out, but at the time that was daring stuff. ah, memories.
Steph
said,
July 3, 2007 at 4:52 pm
you are awesome.
Liza
said,
July 3, 2007 at 6:01 pm
Ok, first AWESOME. And congratulations, you big hairy WINNER!
And can I also say that the homecoming not going picture is your best “eyes blacked out” picture yet?
-R-
said,
July 3, 2007 at 6:49 pm
I was nominated for Most Likely To Be President, but I did not win. Is that a legacy? I hope not.
Laurel
said,
July 3, 2007 at 7:34 pm
That is an amazing feat!
I, on the other hand, could get away without shaving for 6 or 7 weeks.
Frema
said,
July 3, 2007 at 7:35 pm
Oh, how I wish you had taken pictures of your winning leg hair!
Christar
said,
July 3, 2007 at 7:39 pm
I am the exact opposite of you. I only shave my legs two or three times a week because my hair does not grow. The only hair on my entire body that grows really fast, is the hair on my head. Everywhere else is super slow, and it’s super fine. Whereas my head~hair is super thick. So weird, I know! But I love that I don’t have to worry about shaving all the time, haha!
Carrisa
said,
July 3, 2007 at 8:48 pm
I’ve got Christar beat. I shave my legs once a month, max. My leg hair is so light and fine that you can’t feel it. I never have stubble. The only reason I even shave it once a month is because I feel like as a girl, I’m obligated to. no waxing for me. Only my face gets waxed.
Lisa B
said,
July 3, 2007 at 9:46 pm
You know… You should have at least gotten a crown out of that too. heehee.
In high school I won “best legs”. I have NO CLUE How I got that one. I think its only because shorts weren’t allowed and I was one of the very few who wore skirts now and again.
Jihan
said,
July 3, 2007 at 11:21 pm
I was voted most likely to be a talk show host.
And you wonder why my emails are soo flipping long?
Hello. I don’t shut up.
But leg hair. That’s tremendous! That’s something to be proud of.
I wonder if I could beat you. This turkish hair gene creates a healthy hair growth.
You + Me = Hair Growing Showdown 2007
Redinkydink
said,
July 4, 2007 at 12:11 am
Can you believe we actually went out in public in those crazy floral dresses. My prom dress was just like that, but in a blue satin. It was actually a brides made dress that I borrowed from a friend’s friend.
Alyndabear
said,
July 4, 2007 at 12:56 am
Oh you are SO cool. I’m jealous of your coolness. Curses on my pale as leg hairs.
I’m a little sad actually, because we didn’t really have awards like that in high school here. (Gosh, you guys have us Aussies beat on EVERYTHING!)
I think (seeing as I missed out on this valuable experience in my youth) we should have some friendly awards established here. Now. Please?
metalia
said,
July 4, 2007 at 2:18 am
That is just awesome. Is it on your resume? If not, it should be.
Marci
said,
July 4, 2007 at 2:42 am
I TOTALLY remember the leg hair growing contest & you winning. I don’t think I even tried it… I knew I couldn’t compete!
Also, seeing my face blacked out like that was totally scary- and my mom did make that dress… hee hee hee.
angela
said,
July 4, 2007 at 3:50 am
Wow, I don’t think anyone else’s legacy will even come close to yours! I was never voted anything, sadly. However, Nick (who is one of 12 kids) was voted “Most Likely to Have 12 Kids” in high school. Yuck, he better not try to have all those with me.
Elizabeth
said,
July 4, 2007 at 5:26 am
I was totally not into that spirit week crap. But that is so funny that they even had a leg-hair growing contest!
I wasn’t voted best anything our senior year, but the girl who sat in front of me in math got voted “most likely to start a nuclear war” (or something like that)… she was mad.
Though! I was informally voted “best ass in jazz band”… out of 6 girls. Does that count?
LaLa
said,
July 4, 2007 at 10:09 am
I am still laughing at this post. That took some balls.
From memory I was voted “Most Likely to end up on radio”. I have always hoped that it’s not because I have a “face for radio”.
Amber
said,
July 4, 2007 at 12:17 pm
Biggest bangs, Baby. But that is nothin’ on your leg hair growing abilities…
Stacey
said,
July 4, 2007 at 4:26 pm
That is the most awesome spirit week contest ever! I’m sure I would’ve given you a run for your money had we been in the same contest!
As for my own legacy … I was stripped of the title of “Most Courteous” by 1 measley vote. I was crushed, so I wrote mean things in my journal about everyone who voted for Dana T. instead of me. Oh yeah, I was so bad. Ha!
Liz
said,
July 4, 2007 at 4:52 pm
That? Is. Awesome.
I’m pretty sure that I could give you a run for your money in the leg-hair-growing department.
I used to not shave for psuedo-political reasons. Now? I’m just too lazy. Who knows what kind of rug I’ll be sporting for BlogHer.
My legacy: Most Socially Conscious. Which, funnily enough, there had to be a recount because so many of the seniors thought that “Socially Conscious” meant “Biggest Partier.” Um. No…
heidikins
said,
July 4, 2007 at 5:41 pm
Congrats to you! My leg hair is white (like everything else)… so even if/when it gets long, you still can’t tell.
However, in highschool I was voted “Best Smile with Braces”… I still hate my orthodontist for taking my braces off the DAY I graduated… what a jerk. ;o)
meritt
said,
July 4, 2007 at 8:03 pm
ROTFL… that was awesome.
For me - My legacy was still talked about when my brother went through high school almost 10 years later.
Apparently my lack of baseball/softball playing skills and storming off the field and walking back to the locker room because I broke a nail was still going strong.
To tell you how gifted I was at baseball and softball - when I got up to bat, the other team (outfield and bases) all sat down.
:)
Oh - that and my Samantha Foxx ‘ripped in the bum’ jeans that the principal let me, and not one other girl in the entire history of the school - wear…. was also remembered.
Rachel
said,
July 5, 2007 at 4:29 pm
That is too funny!!!! I wasn’t voted anything (that I am aware of) in high school. Damnit.
Chas
said,
July 5, 2007 at 4:58 pm
Wow, that’s some legacy! I was voted nothing in high school, though I was voted “Quietest” and “Friendliest” in 7th grade. I always detested that I’d won “Quietest”…my mom tried to reassure me by saying that I should feel honored that enough people knew my name to know to vote for me. Hmm…btw, I think one of Marci’s sleeves is longer than the other.
Emily
said,
July 10, 2007 at 1:55 pm
Oh, Isabel. You brave soul…not so sure I would be able to admit this to the whole blog world. I am an obsessive shaver. Every single day. The reason may be because my leg hair also grows at an alarming rate (I’m covering my face at this very moment.) I did not receive an award for this in highschool though. I did receive one for “most likely to forget their homework.” I’m so proud.
hola, isabel » Blog Archive » Excess baggage. I believe we’ve all got it.
said,
September 12, 2007 at 5:55 pm
[…] I was the girl that always sat outside the circle because my hair was wrong or my clothes were wrong. I was the girl that didn’t have the boyfriend or the date to prom. I was the girl that was just overweight enough that I was never one of the pretty girls. I was the girl with bad teeth, horrible hair, and hairy legs. […]