My Ash Wednesday Mistake

February 25, 2009 Posted in Reality

I’m Jewish. I grew up in a Jewish town, went to a Jewish private school and then ended up at University of Michigan… in a Jewish sorority.

Needless to say, I have been surrounded by Jewish people for most of my life. And totally sheltered from many other cultures and traditions.Don’t get me wrong – I know and am very close with many non-Jewish people, but none that are particularly observant or religious.

Why do I tell you all of this? To give you a little background leading up to one very awkward moment.

Mardi Gras/Fat Tuesday/Ash Wednesday always fall right around midterms. As much as I’d love to partake in all the festivities, I barely have enough time to check the date let alone indulge in donuts and Hurricanes. Last year I was particularly stressed out over a giant presentation that I needed to give. The thing was massive, required visual aids and counted for 50% of my grade!

While my friends were out flashing guys for beads on Tuesday night, I was slaving over Power Point and Excel spreadsheets. I stayed up all night chugging coffee, eating candy and pulling random sh*t out of my ass just to fill up the 10 page paper that was to accompany my presentation.

I finally finished at 9am and ran to the nearest Kinkos to get everything printed and looking pretty.

When I approached the desk to get some help, I noticed the cashier had some ink on her forehead. Being that I was in a printing shop I figured she had just changed the ink in one of the copy machines and got a little on her. I wanted to tell her, but I also wanted to keel over and die from exhaustion, so I figured I’d let someone else do it.

I went about my business of printing and gluing, keeping an eye out for the ink lady. More people came into the store and spoke to her and no one told her how ridiculous she looked! I was appalled. That time I had spinach in my front teeth for hours and no one told me was embarassing; I’d want to know!

When I finally finished my work – and the lady still had the smudge on her forehead – I decided it was time to say something. I went up to the woman, leaned in and said, “No one else has the balls to tell you, but you have a little ink on your forehead that you may want to wipe off.”

She gave me the stink-eye.

“Thank you, but I know there is something on my forehead. It’s Ash Wednesday.”

Everyone in the store turned to look at me in disgust.

I grabbed my project, paid my bill and ran out.

So, this is my reminder to you: today is Ash Wednesday. Keep that in mind as you go about your business.

2418813 CommentsMy+Ash+Wednesday+Mistake2009-02-25+16%3A39%3A38Lauren+-+University+of+Michigan on "My Ash Wednesday Mistake"

thestorysofar says:
Wed, 25th Feb 20097:05 am

That sucks. but she had no right to give you a rude look. you were being nice.

Sarah says:
Wed, 25th Feb 20097:38 am

I'm Jewish too, but sadly have only one Jewish acquaintance/friend.

If it weren't for that picture above, I wouldn't know what the big deal was.

Alana says:
Wed, 25th Feb 20097:55 am

Ahh I was so confused last year about the whole "people have shmutz on their foreheads" so I finally just asked. I'm so Jewish…

Emmie says:
Wed, 25th Feb 20098:29 am

Could be worse; my father told me once about the time he took the liberty of wiping his coworker's smudge off for him. His coworker was less than pleased.

LCallahan says:
Wed, 25th Feb 20098:32 am

I once told a short jewish guy he had a coffee filter on his head.

Kat says:
Wed, 25th Feb 20099:20 am

I was raised Pentecostal Christian and until this article had no idea what that meant either lol wow

Jules says:
Wed, 25th Feb 200911:10 am

omg i thought the exact same thing yesterday i saw all these people in the shopping centre with marks on their heads i thought they were filming some gag tv show.

when i pointed this out to my boyfriend he laughed at me for about an hour. im jewish too

Liv says:
Wed, 25th Feb 200912:04 pm

This is hilarious. I'm Catholic and if I was that girl I wouldn't have given you a dirty look. Probably laughed, but definitely wouldn't get offended

Beth says:
Wed, 25th Feb 20094:12 pm

Hey I had a prof stop in the middle of a lecture to ask me what was on my forehead. So I have 100 people looking at me while I explained it was Ash Wednesday and why exactly I had them… Of course I do live in Utah so I can't expect to be that surprised.

Lara says:
Wed, 25th Feb 20095:01 pm

I've heard of so many stories like yours. People should stop being so dickish when others don't know that it's Ash Wednesday. It's not that big of a deal, and you're just trying to be polite. =/

mella says:
Wed, 25th Feb 20096:30 pm

For sure told my boss she has charcoal on her forehead.

Chelsea says:
Wed, 25th Feb 20098:54 pm

My boyfriend asked some girl at school today what was on her forehead. I had to laugh at him but he was raised Mormon so I guess he would have no reason to know. I went to a Catholic School for many years so I don't even think anything of it.

Justagirl says:
Wed, 24th Jun 20092:13 pm

I'm pretty sure that the lady gave you the stink eye because of the way you said it. if some rando came up to me a said "No one has the balls to tell you {insert anything here}" i would be a little offended…

that my 2cents

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