 At the same time, I'm not
a very good follower either. Because, if I don't ever know what's
going on, chances are, I zoned out when instructions were being
given on how to follow as well.I've done my stint in the PTA of
my older boys' elementary school. I've screwed up the decorations
for the talent show and bungled the accounting for fundraisers. I've
taken the heat for various boondoggles created during my many years
as a PTA member. I've done my time. Enough is enough. It's someone
else's turn now.
No one was more surprised than I was when I was elected treasurer
of our Toastmasters club last year. I thought, "They're letting me
take care of the money? Are they insane?" But, well, there were only
about five people in attendance that night, and I was the only one
left. So I got the job.
All year long, the president of the group has been trying to
bottle-feed me the various nuances of our dues schedule and the art
of prorating. I'm almost positive there will be more people in
attendance this year on election day, if only to elect a new
treasurer.
I'm one of the founding mothers, you might say, of my bunco
group. But I'm also a fringe member because I never know what's
going on. We have theme nights like "Tropical" or "Christmas" or
"Mexican Night," and everyone dresses and brings food to match the
theme. It's a good thing that I have good friends in that group,
because there are many times when I might have shown up in my
flannel jammies for "Pajama Party" night, when the theme was
actually "Hawaiian Luau" night. It would've been extremely difficult
to limbo in my Sylvester the Cat nightgown.
So, I'm not a leader of any kind, unless you're counting the bad
kind, but following doesn't seem to be my forte either.
[to top of second column]
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 So what am I? I suppose I am a bunco groupie. It's the only thing
that fits.
My daughter started Girl Scouts this year. It's a good way to get
away from her four brothers and spend some much needed girl-time
doing girl things with other girls. That's why it's called Girl
Scouts. I figure it's only a matter of time before someone says the
Girl Scouts is discriminating because it won't let their child --
who loves dolls, kittens and jewelry -- join, just because he is a
boy.
For now, however, Girl Scouts is a haven for my daughter, and
thank goodness for that. I like to go with her because, well, she
and I are in the same boat. After being in a houseful of boys and
men, it is very comforting to be steeped in the sisterhood of
like-minded girls that is the Girl Scouts.
I went to only two meetings, and already I've been designated as
the "Cookie Mom." I will be in charge of keeping track of the
ordering and selling of Girl Scout cookies for this troop. My
incompetence will probably show itself in the amount of cookies I'll
have to buy because of an extra zero I will mistakenly put on the
order.
My garage will be the neighborhood Mecca for cookies. Kids --
total strangers, invited by other strangers -- will be migrating to
my garage for years just to eat all the cookies I'll have stashed
there. I'll have to put my foot down here, though, and insist that
if you're coming to an impromptu cookie party in my garage, it's
BYOM (bring your own milk).
I'm not a leader, people! I'm not a follower either!
Apparently, all it takes for one to be voted into a position of
responsibility is to simply show up.
[By LAURA SNYDER]
You can reach the writer at
lsnyder@lauraonlife.com
Or visit www.lauraonlife.com
for more columns and info about her books.
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