I’m linking up a fourth grade story this week for MamaKat’s Writer’s Workshop.
I vividly remember the fourth grade. I had my all-time favorite teacher(who is actually still teaching – I’m pretty sure he is because you could tell even 33 years ago how much he loved his job), I knew fractions, I was our class student council representative, we just got a new puppy, but mainly I loved fourth grade because my teacher had a cool green pleather couch in the back of the classroom. Mr. T would let us just go back there and lounge on that couch while we did our reading or when he was teaching math or just to hang if we needed to get up from our desks a bit for a change of scenery.
Or.
Mr. T also let us stay inside for recess if we chose to(he was really into free-choice), and so a group of about 10 of us would stay inside many days and play The Newlywed Game.
It was all the rage in 1978 and my parents rarely missed an episode. We would listen to Bob Eubanks talk about ‘making whoopee’ as talking about the s.e.x on the TV was verboten way back then in the olden days.
I was always married to James. He was cute and blond and super short but a good kisser..so he was always my husband. We would answer questions just like the real Newlywed Game and we would kiss and make a scene each time we got a question right.
Mr. T always went outside for recess. Sometimes I wonder if he knew that a third of his class was making out on the green pleather couch. Damn I loved that teacher.
Anyway, I’ve been thinking about fourth grade(and James) a lot lately because Eloise will be a fourth grader in just a few short weeks. Thank god The Newlywed Game went off the air 20 years ago so I know she won’t play that in the classroom. But what reality television show will they play now?
The Real Housewives of Orange County? – Will they take turns getting botox and boob jobs?
Dancing with the Stars? – Will they take turns being b-list stars who cry on television because the whole thing is just so damn life-changing?
Dance Moms? – Will they fight over who gets to play Abby Lee and then humiliate small children or act like the immature dance moms?
Survivor? – Will they form cliques and vote people out of the forth grade(um bully!)? Will they eat bugs?
The Apprentice? – Will they back-stab their fellow students just to impress their egotistical teacher?
The Bachelorette? – Will they have to sleep with everyone in the whole grade before dumping the guy at the end because he’s just not good enough and it keeps ratings high?
See – now that I think about it, playing The Newlywed Game seems pretty damn innocent.
Also, where do I buy a green pleather couch?
You minx, you!!!
Kids these days are brutal – they’ll probably play Survivor. I’d vote for Amazing Race – it’s educational, right? Ahem.
Alison@Mama Wants This recently posted..What’s Going On?
LOVE Amazing Race – but I won’t let her travel that far without me yet.
I just can’t get over you. Or hearing stories about your childhood.
Maybe you should start finding old episodes of the newlywed game to show Eloise. You know, just in case. On second thought, how about they play $10000 pyramid instead? (no physical contact necessary)
christine recently posted..Joys from The Big One and The Little One
So funny – As much as I don’t want her kissing boys in the fourth grade – I also don’t want her being the dork playing Jeopardy. lol
Yes, I was thinking: The Newlywed Game was pretty innocent, compared to today’s shows.
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Fourth grade is pretty brutal, so my vote would be Sons of Anarchy, if they were allowed to watch it.
You should see Fifth Grade!
Tina recently posted..Fourth Grade Failure
Oh that is a good one. Maybe they will all get tattoos!
Yep the Newlywed Game was much more tame. I married the boy who I walked up with to make my First Communion. Little did the priest know that he was marrying us all as we walked up two by two.
Jessica recently posted..Running Ahead
Oh that is hilarious! I never knew you were a good Catholic girl… xo
Oh how I loved that show! And though I didn’t completely understand at that age what they meant by “making whoopee”, it always made me giggle.
http://delaware.craigslist.org/fuo/3011529319.html
m.
Mark recently posted..LOST
DAMMIT MARK, YOU JUST GOT ME FIRED! I am literally howling at the versatility of that couch. With just a blanket, you too can enjoy its multitude of comfort offerings. (I prefer duct tape).
Arnebya recently posted..Wordful Wednesday: I Survived Space Camp (and maybe, possibly, had fun)
My god now I have to take a road trip to pick-up my new couch! I hope the two of you will join me?
You are so gonna be grounded after mama reads this one, sheesh! Fourth grade was probably my favorite hands down. Mrs. Makle was my teacher and I remember I’d written a story that she copied (ha, I almost said xeroxed. Wait, dammit, I did say it) and passed out to the class. I was so proud (until that bitch Corrita tore hers up saying it wasn’t all that great). Gee, Tracy, thanks for making me call that memory up.
I think this is the first time Eloise’s eye color has stood out that much to me. They are, and she is, gorgeous.
Arnebya recently posted..Wordful Wednesday: I Survived Space Camp (and maybe, possibly, had fun)
The newlywed game is still on. It’s in game show network or something. I always remember laughing at the ‘whoopie’ question. I didn’t know what that was but it sure was a funny word!
Uumm Tracy, you are forgetting about the network that really brought reality TV to our generation:
Teen Mom – where you get pregnant and then get a boob job and/or arrested
Jersey Shore – your whole life revolves around G.T.L. and looking for people who are D.T.F. (you have to love a room called the “smush room”).
Okay – I need to watch these! lol
Your fourth grade experience was far superior to mine. If for no other reason than you KNEW fractions. Mercy! I think I would’ve bought you a green pleather couch…heck I would do it NOW if I could “KNOW” fractions.
Sigh
Loved reading this!
Ducky recently posted..The Day Was a Fairytale
I was 10 in 1978… I remember The Newlywed Game well. At the time I thought making whoopie meant that the couple would jump up and down on the bed and yell “whoopie!”
Jen {at} take2mommy recently posted..I Swore I’d Never…
Oh we are the same age…I miss TV from the 70′s!
Oh, every good one. You’ve nailed it.
In fourth grade I was in no way comfortable enough with myself to be making out with any boys. I didn’t even have my first kiss until junior high. I was always in awe of those girls that were so much more comfortable in their own skin.
Jennifer recently posted..Help me! How do I get my husband to help around the house?
Looking back I wish I would’ve waited until Jr. High to kiss those boys. xo
Ha! Yeah, maybe we should start a movement to make playing the Newlywed Game a cool thing.
Jen recently posted..Fourth Grade Adult
Oh yup. You’re pretty much screwed mom.
Lady Jennie recently posted..Senior (Citizen) Hottie
When Eloise comes home speaking with a bad Jersey accent, make an appointment to chat with the principal.
I was always allowed to stay indoors for recess, too, but I would just read. I remember Eric Baumgarten, a cute blond boy, and he was always getting picked on by the girls — honestly, there was a clique of them who would try to kiss him, every day. And I envied him because of that.
John recently posted..Where I dust off this old blog of mine
I remember being so embarrassed when they would talk about “making whoopie” but I just thought they were talking bout kissing. Seriously.
And we used to play 7 Up during inside recess and I would always cheat and look at the kids shoes to know who it was…
Elaine recently posted.."Vintage" Toys
LOL. Sometimes when I think about how old I was when I started doing things and compare to that to children I now know at that age I’m slightly appalled. And by slightly perhaps I mean terribly horrendously so.
I imagine he didn’t know. At a certain age I think we just enter in denial about what these children are up to. I can’t wait to be in denial.
Marta recently posted..Wet. Wild. Water.
OH My WORD! I can only imagine how much trouble I’d get into if I left a third of my class alone in the room! OY VEY!
And I’m thinking they’d pick something more along the lines of Jerry Springer…
Sorta Southern Single Mom recently posted..Writer’s Workshop Repost: My Life in Music
It scares me a little how much tv has changed!
Shell recently posted..Soundtrack of the Year
Now that you put it that way…making whoopie talk seems positively tame.
angela recently posted..What is Success Without Love? — Reviewing Where She Went
Oh 4th grade sounds so, so big!
I can’t believe they’re, like, getting bigger on us!
(Also, the Newlywed Game was such a fun show to watch! Why is that? We were 10!!)
Galit Breen recently posted..Sunshine and Cookies and Friendship
Too funny. Hopefully it won’t be The Bachelor.
Barbara recently posted..First Flight