When I was 17 and my brother 13 we went to a summer pool party at the house of important business associates of my step-father. As we walked in the front door we looked to the left and saw a gigantic, immaculate living-room with white carpet and mostly white furniture. This was a beautiful and opulent house, which as I recall was the back yard neighbor to actor Lorn Green, who had horses grazing in his yard. It was beautiful. In contrast, as a military brat, our house was furnished by JC Penny, Sears and yard sales, with the occasional incredible piece from lands far and wide.
As we walked through the door, Mom froze and looked to the left at that white living-room, then at my brother and I, and then at the living-room. She turned to us and said in simple words and careful diction that carried the weight of every punishment known to man... “Don’t Go In There!” That was it... “Don’t Go In There!” I’ll never forget that moment. My loving and gentle mother had somehow said in a calm and loving manner, words that carried the weight of the most frightful drill sergeant that has ever walked the Earth. An outsider might never have picked up on the weight of her implied threat that bulged between the lines, but it was crystal clear to my brother and myself. Usually my brother and I found ourselves wanting to test her resolve, but not this time.
My brother and I looked at the living-room ourselves, took a quick mental cost-benefit analysis, and agreed with her 100%. The party was by the pool anyway. :) Over the years I have always gotten a chuckle out of thinking about that moment.
“Don’t Go In There!”
The following is from a link about the livingroom blockage. It’s about a child who took matters into her own hands to help parents to remember to be responsible!
This is awesome!!
Here is just the vid:
https://youtu.be/nXgcV0c4AXw
That’s funny.
I got the “church” look. She didn’t have to say a word. She was the sweetest woman on earth, but us kids knew the “church”
look.