Lucy & Ethel

In the past few years I have started referring to my sister Mindy and I as Lucy and Ethel. I remember watching the black and white re-runs when I was a little girl and it always played out the same way. Lucy talks Ethel into some new scheme, both are put in compromising situations, but it always ends in a good laugh. That is my relationship with Mindy in a nutshell. It is never boring with Mindy, always tons of fun and there is always an embarrassing or especially hairy situation involved. One quick example would be the time she convinced me to go to an aerobics class on a gym guest pass. I loathe classes at the gym and I was seriously out of shape. I reluctantly agreed and when we arrived we found out it was an advanced aerobics class. I nearly passed out and found myself gasping for air on the floor in the back of the class. Totally embarrassing but so funny now.

A few short months ago Mindy called and said she had something to ask me but that it needed to be done in person. This seemed crazy since we can talk about anything with one another. What could be so important that she needed to ask in person? As I waited for her to travel the 0.7 mile to my house I decided I knew what she needed. I was convinced that she was going to ask me to watch her 5 sweet kids while she and her husband went away on a trip. What else could warrant a house call?

Anyway, she did not ask me to watch her kids which was a little sad since I was already planning the vacation where she watched my kids in trade. What she wanted to know was if I would MC a beauty pageant with her. She compared us to being like a Regis & Kelly. We would announce all the girls and the typical stuff along with filling the time between set changes and vote tallying with entertainment. I was shocked. How could we entertain a whole auditorium full of people on the spot. I think we are pretty funny when we are together but this was asking a lot. I also have a tendency to put my foot in my mouth & to be politically incorrect. It would be so much better if this was a roast. I could easily talk about a contestants "muffin top" or her flubbed talent but it's hard to be funny and nice on the spot. To be truthful... I did not want to do it. It was Mindy's friend that is over the pageant and not mine. I was scared to death that we would flop and be seriously annoying to the crowd. After a lot of convincing and her calling me a Wienie I conceded with the understanding that she would gather the funny material and I would do my best to go along with it and be witty.

Two months later the big night came. In the picture below you can see Mindy and I sitting at our table. I am the one glowing. I should have considered that wearing white with a spotlight on me could be bad news- total Staypuffed Marshmallow. The night went pretty well. Mindy came up with some good things to fill the time with and we practiced it a few days before. We got lots of laughs and lots of compliments after. I was so glad it was over and now I can laugh about it. Mindy was already asked if we would do it again next year and I politely responded, "Oh, Dear No. You will need to find a new Ethel for that." Love you Mindy! Thanks for always helping me make memories!