Years ago, my later years of high school to be exact, I didn’t know my months. I had a rough idea of what came next and why, but when push came to shove, I’d have to look at a calendar to make sure.
Maybe I was sick that day they covered it in school. Maybe I was just having fun with my friends and didn’t pay attention to the teacher. Whatever the case may have been, I simply didn’t know.
Nobody around me knew or cared that I didn’t know my months. I was able to get by just fine not knowing. In fact, I still wouldn’t know if it hadn’t been for a very unfortunate trip to the local store one day.
Kind Lady behind the counter: “That’ll be ten-fifty, please.”
Me: “Sure. ::grabbing my checkbook:: Can I use your pen.”
Kind lady: “Here ya go.”
Me: “Ahh, what’s the date today?”
Kind Lady: “It’s the sixteenth.”
Me: “Umm. No. I mean what month is it?”
Kind Lady: “Oh. Sorry. Were in October now.”
Me: ::leaning into the kind woman and getting quieter:: “Actually, what number is that. I’m writing a check?”
I really don’t remember what was said after that. Maybe it was the look she gave me, or maybe the way she leaned away from me, or it could have been her sending my check through the validation machine twice that did it, but I was humiliated.
I sat down that night and studied the calendar. I was never going to feel that way again.
So, share with me. What stupid thing did you once not know, or you still don’t know?