When I was little – maybe 5 or 6 – I remember my mom getting really upset with me for rolling my eyes at her. (Are you surprised?)
I wanted so desperately to stop, to behave, to be good. But the thing was…I didn’t know what “rolling my eyes” was! And since I didn’t know what it meant to roll my eyes, I certainly didn’t know how to stop!
Fast forward a couple dozen years to, oh, tonight. At choir practice. In church.
We were practicing one of our very serious songs for Good Friday, and Brett, our choir director, was not happy with our tone. We were too bright, not singing tall enough. So he threatened – as he does from time to time – to make us stick three fingers in our mouth.
It’s not as weird as it sounds. It forces us to really open up and have a tall, mature sound.
He kept threatening, and we kept singing…poorly. And so he said, “Okay, that’s it. I’m not kidding. Do it.”
I felt it start, and I’m telling you, I couldn’t stop it. My eyes, they were a-rollin’!
You know, I’m a real sarcastic person. And I will confess to having the urge to roll my eyes often. I mean, we’re talking several times a day. I’m not proud of this, but I have – for the most part – learned to control it. My favorite eye-rolling-controlling trick is to simply close my eyes. Close my eyes, roll my eyes, then open again. See?
Actually, no you can’t see. And that’s the point.
I don’t know what happened tonight. Maybe I was tired. Maybe I was feeling at home and comfortable sharing my true feelings. Maybe I have had a rough week and was slightly annoyed at the thought of sticking half my hand in my mouth.
Whatever the excuse, I did it. I totally rolled my eyes. At my choir director.
I’m sorry, Brett. I didn’t mean to disrespect you. I hope you’ll still let me sing on Good Friday. I promise to open wide and sing tall. For realz.
If you liked this post, subscribe to Giving Up On Perfect.
For realz? I think you’ve been watching too much ‘Juno’ or something. ;) I’m sure Brett didn’t even notice your eye rolling though — I mean, it was a big group of people!
HaHaHa! I’ve never even met you in person and for some reason I can picture you doing this. Too funny. Wonder when your little one will start doing this?
Chelley, that’s a nice thought, but yes, he did see me. And totally called me out in front of the whole group! And the “for realz” was for Brett – he and I are both big fans of So You Think You Can Dance, and they use that silly phrase on there a lot. :)
Brenda, it is just a matter of time before she starts. She already has an attitude and she’s not even 2!! But…it’s mostly a cute attitude for now!
I was talking to a friend on the phone last night and told her that I could HEAR her rolling her eyes.
busted. :)
oh no, he called you out! what’d he say?! yeah, i can totally picturing you do this.
i don’t think i could stop laughing to be able to sing with 3 fingers in my mouth. :-)
Erin – he said, “And if I see you rolling your eyes again, it’s going to be FOUR fingers!”
I sent him an apology last night and a link to this post – he said no worries, he loved the whole thing. Good thing we don’t take ourselves too seriously in choir!
Oh you are much to loveable to be truly disrespectful… :-D
too…my fingers aren’t keeping up with my thoughts today I guess… :-D
I just found your blog (from your comment on Chatting at the Sky) and LOVE IT!!!!!!! Looking forward to getting to know you more. :)
FUN-KNEE…I have the “slightest” tendancy to roll my eyes…huff…and say “uuuuhgggg”–my husband hates the last one…and unfortunately it should only be a matter of time before photobaby learns this mannerism too…my kids imitate ALL…and I Mean ALL my WORST habits and inclinations.
:) But it is FUNNY!
Lol…this is the greatest thing I’ve read all week;)
my face gives me away every single time.
Ha! I can relate. With age, I have become a back-of-the-room heckler, which is like an eye-roller, but with actual words that come out of my mouth! Like the two old guys in the Muppet Show balcony!
It always comes back to the Muppets, doesn’t it? ;)
Haha!! This makes me like you even more! :D I’m sarcastic myself, and love me some good sarcasm. :) My friends little girl has the rolliest eyes you’ve ever seen. And they’re HUGE and chocolate brown. So hard not to laugh! She’s not really trying to roll them … she just uses her eyes as the main part of her expression. So she does it when she’s thinking, when she’s explaining something, listening, just talking … and her mom found out that she listened better if she (mom) mimicked her (daughter). So she would use drastic facial expressions and body movements to communicate with her. So funny! Love it!
Okay, so I’ve been reading your blog all afternoon and now that the kids are in bed, I’m back. :-) Anyway, just wanted to say – I haven’t seen you roll your eyes in years and as soon as you said it I saw you (in my mind’s eye, of course) perfectly!