[NJFemmie]

For many years, my brother used to take us to a lake every Sunday in the summer months. Me and my two oldest nephews (who were relatively close in age) - would wander around the grounds looking for some sort of trouble to get into. It was a big lake - they held concerts at night, had concession stands - it was more like a very toned down theme park.

I was a massive tomboy as a child - and would always find a way to get myself dirty. During one trip - I was wearing a pair of brand new red shorts my mother bought for me - and I wasn't supposed to be wearing them until later that evening (aka clothes change). Well, despite my mother's warnings, I wore them, and I was determined not to get dirty this time around. I was looking sharp and I was planning on staying that way. I promised her.

Well.. as fate would have it - we (my nephews and I) - were walking on rocks along a stream ... minding our own business, not looking for trouble (for a change) and low and behold I take a slide on some mud and land ass first on a huge muddy rock.

I was so pissed. My day was shot and so were my shorts. I made my nephews walk behind me shielding my ass because I was embarrassed that I had an inch thick of mud back there. EVERYONE will know I took an ass dive. Oh, the tragedy.

I can still hear my mother "you can't keep anything clean can you...? I told you not to wear those shorts ... " *sigh* I was never sure she believed I didn't do it on purpose.

I still laugh at the picture in my head of me slipping on that rock. It was slow-motion, both feet in the air, BOOM I'm on my ass and mud everywhere.
It wasn't funny then, but it's worth a good chuckle for me now.