Stories From My Youth: Buddah Belly

This story is really stupid, but one that always makes me laugh really hard when I think about it. I grew up in Colorado and lived around several small lakes called the Marston Lakes. I loved going to the lake with my family. We would often walk there in the evening and just hang out on the dock and watch the sunset.

One particular evening I walked to one of the lakes with two of my sisters. I don't really remember what we were doing and the only thing that sticks in my mind is what I did and the complete idiot I was about to make of myself in public.

My sister Keri and I shared a room for awhile and somehow we got started on something we called "buddah belly." We would lift up our shirts and rub our belly's against each other. Yah, weird right? We thought it was hilarious every single time we did it.

Well, out there on the dock Keri dared me to do buddah belly. I was quite shy and did not do crazy things like lift my shirt up in public....usually. But something struck me that night and I thought "what the heck, no one will even see me." So I did it. I lifted up my shirt, pulled my pants down to my hips and said our usual...."oh buddah." Keri started laughing her head off and then for some reason I turned around, with my entire mid section exposed....to see my Bishop standing there! Two feet away from me!

I froze. I didn't pull up my pants right away because I was mesmerized and mortified by the smirk on the Bishop's face. He never said a word. He just stood there and grinned at me. I slowly pulled up my pants and ran past him. I couldn't look at him for weeks. He never mentioned it and I didn't dare say anything. I always wondered what he was thinking in that moment.

See, totally stupid story, but one that conjures a lot of giggling from me. Oh, and this is the same Bishop that let us going skinny dipping on a trip to Lake Powell. I really do have fond memories and love the experiences I had as a youth! Even the really embarrassing ones!


P.S. I did not have a buddah belly at the time this incident occurred. That happened many years later, after I had kids. It's my curse for making fun of buddah bellies!!