Did I Say That?

My blogging friend, Kelly Wolf, has a regular feature called Filter Free Fridays where she shares silly things that she and her family said during the week. I realize some of you may have total control over the words that leave your lips, but Kelly is not one of you. Neither am I.

A couple of weeks ago, Kelly shared a funny story about her mother and asked if we had stories to share. I did, and told her I would share it here.

Several years ago, during the summer of one of my first years partaking of the Coast Guard Experience with Live-In Handyman, we were stationed at Cape May, New Jersey. It was August 4 - Coast Guard Day. I'm pretty sure this August 4 fell on a Saturday.

Coast Guard Day is celebrated by Coasties every year - it's the date Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton founded the Coast Guard, then called the Revenue Service, way back in 1790.

So don't get in trouble out on the water on August 4. Just kidding! Everyone works that day, unless it's the weekend, and usually things close down early before the party begins and the duty section takes over. Semper Paratus.

On Coast Guard Day that year, the base celebrated with a party on the Coast Guard Beach, which was over in Wildwood. The Coast Guard Beach had their own rules, which was wonderful because at the entrances of the Wildwood beaches were huge black signs with a big NO at the top followed by two columns of things you couldn't do on the beach.

We all brought coolers, and the base cooks grilled dogs and burgers. So now you have a good feel for the setting.

Live-In Handyman and I are walking from the car to the beach, and on the trail we meet a man with a passel of kids in tow. We're all in beach attire, complete with hats and sunglasses, and slathered with sunblock. The kids are sandy. The man and Handyman talk, I say hi, and then we all move on.

I'm not paying much attention. I remember thinking I bet he's a runner, because he's got that lean, lightly-muscled look. Or he plays tennis. And I wondered where his wife was. Or if he had a wife, and if all those kids were his. (See, the mind of a writer building a story even though I didn't recognize it then.)

After we're settled, Handyman tells me the guy is his boss's boss. Or maybe even a rung or more higher on the chain of command, I really don't remember. Our friends joined us, and we proceeded to have a fun CG Day.

A year or two later, we're stationed in New York, on Governor's Island. It's a chilly fall night, and we decide to go to the base movie. It's nearby and we walk. We're wearing jackets, scarves, gloves, hats. So is everyone else. We're waiting to buy tickets and Handyman is talking to another couple in line. Did I tell you Handyman LOVES to talk?

Then he says to me, "Carol, you remember Captain XYZ."

I don't remember if I shrugged, said no, or gave him The Look. But he gets that I don't have a clue who the guy is.

So to be helpful, Handyman says, "You met him on Coast Guard Day when we were in Cape May."

Without thinking, the words out of my mouth are: "Oh. I didn't recognize you with your clothes on."

Which earned me a scathing look from Mrs. Captain. And her not acknowledging my presence anytime we met thereafter. Not even while riding the ferry to or from Manhattan.

Some people just don't have even one tiny trace of a sense of humor.

Bless their hearts.

How about you?

I know you have a sense of humor.

Are you a member of the Did I Say That Club?