Part One of LOOONG Volleyball post

Mintonette, also known as Volleyball, was born on this date, 1895 in Massachusetts. A YMCA physical education director, created this new game as a pastime to be played preferably indoors and by any number of players who didn’t need to have a lot of athleticism. As we celebrate the birth of Mintonette, I am reminded of my 7th grade team …we indeed did not have a lot of athleticism.

We lost EVERY. SINGLE. GAME.

Our little team of short-shorted-kneepad-clad-warriors put our souls into each match, but we just couldn’t pull out a win. Oh, we could don the costume with flair and ensure our hair was teased high enough to support the sweatband that was worn more for fashion than for absorbing sweat. We made sure we looked fabulous as we made the line to shake the other team’s hands. We smiled politely at the sportier, less fashionable girls. “Good game, good game, good game, “we repeated to each one and we meant it. We felt that we gave it our all and once in awhile we scored some points and had some impressive volleys, but never did we feel the coveted win.

It wasn’t until 8th grade that I actually won a game. The feeling was magnificent. I was a little surer of my body and was learning how to use my height as an advantage rather than an awkward hindrance. I got out of the wearing of my headband for fashion phase and became beefier and sportier. I felt like a giant among the dainty players on my team, but I was good and liked being in their "group". I still secretly wanted to be like them. They wore the right clothes, the right make-up and the right cologne... Vanderbilt.

The two coolest girls on our team, Molly and Carli started wearing it first. Every time the swan clad bottle was taken out of their lockers and sprayed on their perfect cable knit sweater dresses, we all drooled with envy. They were the epitome of sophistication and class. They were pastel and lip gloss. They were perfect hair and breasts. They had it all and wore Gloria Vanderbilt, so naturally wearing the same scent would make me part of their perfect pastel world.