Today marks a special memory in my life, one that always makes me smile. "10-24" was the code word for skipping school, in my high school days, because October 24 was the first time I ever did anything like that.
I went to a Catholic Girls High School outside Washington, D.C., where there was serious accountability and discipline by black-robed, halo-wearing nuns with rulers in their deep pockets (for slapping students on the knuckles or head, if they got out of line). It would be fair to say that I was one of those good little girls who always toed the line and never got in trouble. (After all, my mother went to the same school, and I was raised with certain values.) That's what makes this adventure so extraordinary!
On October 24, a beautiful fall day during my sophomore year, my best friend drove to school in her very old green Buick (if I remember correctly - long time ago!). During home room, we decided on impulse to go out the back door to her car during change of class and make our own "great escape".
It was, indeed, an amazing adventure! We headed towards Northern Virginia to avoid risk of encountering a parent, having never driven through D.C. traffic. (I know, this dates us, but Rt. 495, the Beltway, wasn't built yet - that was finished when I was in college.) We toured the U.S. Capitol Building, drove on the newly constructed George-Washington Parkway along the Virginia side of the Potomac River and marvelled at the beautiful fall leaves, saw where the new CIA Headquarters Building was located, bought new shoes at a Northern Virginia strip shopping center for a high school dance that night, and made it back to school in time to blend in with everyone after school.
It went so smoothly, that we decided to "10-24" several more times. We usually visited a national monument, which D.C. area natives usually take for granted. We never told a soul. And we were smart enough to pull the plug during senior year before getting caught. (My son wasn't so lucky, when he skipped school a generation later!)
So, join me today in toasting good times, adventure, a little naughtiness, and another beautiful fall day in D.C.! One small detail, it's overcast and rainy - but who cares?
(Oh, you want a real estate blog? Let me just say that 10-24 was probably when I discovered my entreprenurial drive. Who knew it would lead to a real estate career!)
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Margaret Woda, REALTOR and Associate Broker
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10-24!
It still remains a vivid memory.
What a GREAT Blog Post Margaret,
What School did you attend? This brought back so many memories for me!
Ten Twenty Four! I have a new phrase for my vocabulary, Margaret.
I just stopped by to comment on your blog. You were the very first person to comment on my very first blog post, all the way back in July of this year. Posting this comment on your blog will take me over the 40,000 mark. You were my first blogging "encourager," and I want to say Thank You!
Mike in Tucson
What a great memory Margaret....I guess I never cut classes I skipped the whole day! My wife is a graduate of the no-nunsense academy too! She said the smallest of nun's could reign fear through the halls if you were late getting to class!
Thanks for sharing your 10-24 very enjoyable post.
Jason - Sounds like a good plan! Have a great time!
Gary - I wish... No, I had to attend the Subscriber Advisory Council meeting for our local multiple listing system. Maybe tomorrow.
Patricia - Glad you enjoyed it. Yes, I had Holy Cross nuns, with those big halo-shaped fluted halos and big hear-shaped starched bibs.
Aziz - Darn right! It's my favorite fall memory of all times, and always makes me smile. My children would have been horrified, if they'd known when they were in school. The secret is out now, though.
Debbie - Holy Cross, in Kensington. My mother went when the school was in D.C.
Mary - Didn't it feel great? The feeling of accomplishment, for outsmarting the nuns!
Mike, That is so nice of you to remember. Thank you. And congratulations on your 40,000 point milestone. You're the third person that I consider an ActiveRain friend who has told me that.
Gary - Glad you enjoyed it. I was ready for some lightness and smiles after my recent Fair Housing postings.
Amy - It's a great time of year for doing that. I say "go for it."
Paul - And maybe some day you'll share with us a feel-good story from one of your adventures.
Sally - Just so you know, a planned vacation wouldn't count. Part of the fun is the pure sponteneity.
Thesa - 'Guess those nuns and our conscious impacted even our naughty days. But really, those were great adventures because our families never took us to do anything D.C. (being D.C. natives themselves, they took them for granted). I just don't know how we got away with going those places in our school uniforms, and no one questioning us.
Kathy, I agree - spontaneous always feels a little naughty, doesn't it.
Katerina, Oh, I'm so sory to hear about your daughter's complicated pregnancy. Hopefully everything will be okay.
Brian - I never go to N. Va. on the GW Parkway that I don't think of this "big adventure" -
Donna - Oh no, your worst nightmare, I'm sure! The only reason I remember the date is because we used it as code for "let's skip school today!"