My Mom wears a particular pendant. It’s more of a medal and badge of honor, really. It reads, “Miss Popularity, 1959.”
A) How ridiculous is that to begin with?
B) There’s so much more to the story…
I always assumed that Mom was Miss Popularity in 1959 because she was the owner of the aforementioned necklace. And, I also believe that she was probably just like, you know, totally popular anyway. After all, popularity runs in the family.
I recently learned that she was only nominated. In order to actually be labeled the most popular girl in school, chosen individuals had to raise enough money for God only knows what.
My Mom grew up in a great, no nonsense family. They never really had much money, but they are a tight-knit group. Her parents, Mamie and Shine, went through a lot in life. So when my Mom asked if they would contribute to the Miss Popularity money pile, they (im)politely declined.
Instead, my grandmother did the most logical thing by bringing her to the local house of prostitution, The Cadillac Motel.
Trust me, it was a real place. I’ve seen the key chains. They are still attached to the ceiling fan cords in my Aunt Sweet Pea and Uncle Steve’s house. Even a couple of the bedrooms in their home were added on from this place, meaning I’ve technically stayed in The Cadillac Motel myself.
Anyway…
The Madame, Unis Pickett, gathered all of the working ladies so that my Mom could collect money from them and win the championing title. This was in spite of the fact that the rest of the mothers at the school treated Unis like garbage because of her profession. Unis had every right to refuse giving money to the school, but being Miss Popularity meant a lot to Mom.
Additionally, my grandmother took an old dress of silk and lace — made to fit an adult — and cut, sewed, and draped it to fit my Mom in preparation for the Miss Popularity event.
When the night came, Mom said she felt like a princess. She walked down the stage, escorted by the local weatherman’s son in her resized dress. Imagine that feeling: Walking down the runway with the hottest boy in school, feeling beautiful, and knowing that you raised the most money. You’ve won. You are Miss Popularity. And you’re only in the fifth grade! It was a Cotillion of epic proportions.
The title was imminent. It was tallied and Mom raised the most money.
And that’s when it happened.
The runner up, some hoochie in the eighth grade, got her parents to donate ten more dollars, placing her above Mom.
Mom begged my grandparents to give her just a few more dollars. They told her no. After all, if they gave her money, the other girl’s parents would do the same and they had more to give.
Mom lost Miss Popularity to Miss Money Pants.
When I was told this story, I couldn’t help but think of all the hardworking people who are denied jobs due to familial influence. We’ve all been there. You apply for the job, the person whose father is the owner of X, Y, and Z gets it, even though his resume isn’t as good as yours. You’ve done the work, they haven’t. And yet, due to higher parental powers, they get the job.
However, what I took away from Mom’s story was something completely positive. As opposed to being bitter, Mom wears the Miss Popularity pendant with a sense of pride and a hint of irony (you know Ma, she’s such a hipster). Again, Mom felt like a princess that night.
“Even though I didn’t win, I felt like Miss Popularity.”
There’s something important in feeling and knowing that.
