Memory Monday: Reverse Kidnapper

I am the queen of awkward situations.

I don't know how, but they just find me. It's like I emanate a vapor of misfortune and incoordination that attracts awkward situations like lost little woodland creatures to a natural spring of water. It's really quite beautiful.

This awkward situation is one I'm reminded of whenever we drive by a certain house in our neighborhood.

I've mentioned a few times here that I'm involved in fundraising for the Pregnance Resource Center. One of the ways that I raise money is by going door to door in my neighborhood. A couple years ago, a friend and I were fundraising in my neighborhood, and came to a cute little house with a stay-at-home mom and her two kids. She listened to our little speech and told us she'd really like to donate, but she'd have to talk to her husband first, so maybe we could come back some other time. We agreed, and after saying goodbye, we went on to other houses.

We didn't raise as much money as we had hoped, and my friend asked me if I was going to go back to that lady's house later.

At first I wasn't sure if I wanted to. What if she wasn't actually expecting me to come back? She told us we could come back later, though, so it's not like I didn't get some sort of invitation. And think of the babies! 
It was my duty to go back and claim that money. It was for the greater good, anyway.

I told my grandpa about it, and he wanted to come with me. He gave me a ride over to their house and waited in the car as I walked up to the door.

Little did I know that what waited for me was yet another awkward moment.

The woman answered with her toddler standing at the door in nothing but a diaper. I could see the surprise on her face when she recognized me. "Oh, um... I'm sorry... I still haven't talked to my husband yet... let me call him..." Already the discomfort of the situation wrapped around me like an itchy sweater.

She left her toddler standing in front of me in the doorway. He looked up at me with these huge eyes and a puzzled look on his face. I smiled down at him and said hello, but he didn't return the sentiments.

Instead, he took off running down the street.

I didn't want him to run into the road, so I went after him (he hadn't gone too far yet), and picked him up. I set him back where he was standing in the doorway, looking a bit shaken by having a strange girl pick him up.

That's when he started crying. Really loud.

In shock I stood there, wondering what to do. I felt like some sort of reverse kidnapper. Every second felt like another minute as I tried to calm him down.

The woman came to the door and I told her what happened, and she thanked me, making it feel a little less weird. Then she handed me a twenty dollar bill. I felt gratitude, triumph and accomplishment rise in my chest. There were more obstacle than expected, but I did it!

Then she asked me if I had change for $10.

So I got change from my grandpa, thanked her, and drove away, feeling the fleece blanket of my own awkwardness irritating my skin. At least it went to a good cause. :P

"When I Was Your Age..."

...When I was a kid, we had arcades and ataris...

...When I was in high school, there was a point where it was cool for girls to wear their dads' old sweaters...

...When I was your age, we had Madonna instead of Lady Gaga...

No offense to anyone who grew up in the 80's... but sometimes I ponder how it could ever have been in style to wear spandex, tease your hair until it was taller than you, or wear acid wash jeans. I've had to listen to 80's music, in all it's synthesizer-laden glory. I've seen movies from the 80's that have made me laugh at the sheer ridiculousness of it all. ("Girls Just Wanna Have Fun"?).

But then I think of my generation, and how my kids are going to see it one day.

Then I cringe a little. o_o

Because they're probably going to see things like this:

I can envision it now: Driving my kids around in some minivan (or hovercar?), dancing along to something like "Tik Tok," with a kid rolling their eyes in the passenger seat.

They're probably going to laugh at my generation just as much as I laugh at my mom's. :P They're going to find all the fads and trends of the early 2000's just as weird as the trends of the 80's.

And aside from telling my kids about all the "lame" technology we have now, I'm probably going to wind up telling them about all the dumb trends that rose in my generation. I'm going to say the same things my mom says when she talks about her childhood.

"When I was a kid...

Practically everyone (even boys) straightened their hair.

Everyone was crazy about Facebook, Twitter and Youtube.

"Reality" TV was on practically every channel.

We thought the world would end in 2012. :P

Vampires and Werewolves were a big deal.

Not a Friday went by without somebody making a Rebecca Black reference.

We wore shirts with the store name written on them.

We had trends like Silly Bandz, Shutter Shades, Ugg Boots and baggy pants.

Everyday we were shufflin'.

Girls became obsessed with Twilight and Justin Bieber.

Guys became obsessed with Skyrim and Call Of Duty.

Pretty much every movie that ever came out, came back in 3D.

We did the "Dougie" and the "Cat Daddy."

Girls did the "Duck Face," and the peace sign in every picture they took (normally with their phone and in front of a mirror)...

...And we were COOL."

Ok, hardly. :P

Where is humanity going, anyway?

Allow me to introduce myself...

If you are reading this, then you are reading a monumental moment in history; for here on this day, I am writing the blog post to begin all legendary blog posts. This is where it allllll starts.

...Or not. Chances are, you're probably reading this because I told you about it or because you're reaaalllly bored and have been browsing blogs for hours (get up! Go outside! DO something with your life!). I'm not sure how many viewers I'm going to get, but I'm really hoping this takes off. I love to write and needed a project, so here we are. :)

Welcome to my blog!!!

If you don't know me, I'm Kaylee Beutler (otherwise known as "Kay.") (To the right, holding "Moono." Isn't "Yo Gabba Gabba" AWESOME?!?!)

Here's me with my sisters (from left to right: Khloe, Kyla holding Katie, Karissa, and Karly). And, since all of our names start with K, some of our common nicknames include, "Kat...Ky...Khlo... HEY YOU!"

We like to keep people on their toes. :P

My Mom, and my newest baby sister, Kianna...

...aaand my dad with Kianna (as you can see, it's hard getting a picture of all of us at once).

So there you have it. We're one of those "weird" families with "like, a bajillion kids." ;) It's hectic, it's loud, it's borderline insanity over here sometimes, but I love it. My family likes to keep things interesting.

As for me, I shoot people.

I also like driving my family members insane with playing the piano and learning ASL (which I'm having a great time with!)

I'm 17 years old, I'm a senior, I volunteer at a horse stable, love music and the color orange.

(And I'm beginning to sound like an intro for a Miss America contestant...) :P

Hello. I'm Kaylee. Nice to meet you. :)