When I attended Girl Scout camp as a rising fifth grader, I was flat as a board. I overheard one of my tent mates say, "She's a carpenter's dream."
I had no idea what she was talking about. All I could think of was wood and nails. "I don't get what she means, do you?" I asked another camper.
"It means you have no tah-tahs," she answered.
I didn't get what that meant, either.
My friend saw my confusion and tried to clarify non-threateningly, "You have no 'girls,'" she said as she looked at my chest.
I looked down. Straight down. There were no obstructions from my head to my toes. Nothing. Not one single thing, not even two little things, got in my line of view. At age 11, bazoomas eluded me.
During free time that Sunday, I sat on my bed (which was really a cot) and wrote to my mother. I remember the stationery well: It was the smooth side of a piece of bark that we stripped off a tree during a recent hike. Our counselor told us that, in the olden days, people used to write letters on birch bark.
Dear Mom,
Hi. How are you and Dad? Does Patsy [my dog] miss me? Oh, and can you send me a trainer bra? Everyone in my tent wears bras and everyone is making fun of my undershirts. I also think a bra will make it easier for me in sports.
I was certain making that last point would convince my mother that the time had come. And who knew? Maybe wearing a bra would give me the self-confidence to run fast(er) when we sprinted to the lake for free swim.
At mail call later that week, I received a puffy envelope. I knew exactly what was in it.
"Wow, you got a present in the mail today," a few of the girls said.
"Yeah, it's probably nothing," I said. But getting my first bra was a really big deal. Even though I hadn't yet gotten "my friend," a bra was a solid first step to womanhood.
When I returned to my tent, I opened the envelope. A light pink training bra was wrapped in white tissue paper. A little note from my mom said, "You are such a big girl now."
I immediately turned my back to my tent-mates and slipped the bra on over my head. From the back, the bra strap looked really impressive.
The unimpressive part, though, came when I lifted my arms to put my shirt back on. With nothing to hold down the trainer bra, it raised up under my armpits.
I thought I heard some tittering, but it was probably my imagination.
"Yeah, I started wearing a bra this summer," I could hear myself telling my BFFs when I got home in August. I would try to be casual but boy, did I feel cool.
That was more than four decades ago. Now wearing a bra is about as exciting as vacuuming with your very own vacuum cleaner.
So imagine my delight when I learned that July 9th is National No Bra Day. What does this mean exactly? For a solid 24-hours, feel free to bust out of the confines of your brassiere, sports bra and bustier. And if some boob stares at you (or at your chest) with question, just say, "Today is for the 'girls'."
Along with feeling unbridled and uplifted, you will feel gratitude to your mom for getting you into training, many moons ago, for this very important day.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.