People Share The Hardest-To-Believe Things About Themselves That Are Actually True

He Turned Them Down

Has something ever happened to you that no one else believed? They told you that you must’ve been dreaming, you remembered it wrong, or that you just plain ol’ made it up? Crazy things don’t happen in real life, after all, right? But, no matter what anyone else says, you’ll always know that it did really happen, and that you’re telling the truth.

Maybe you met a celebrity – or are related to one; you might’ve gotten caught in a cyclone, or maybe you even assisted the FBI with a criminal investigation. Whether people believe you or not, you simply can’t deny that, sometimes, unbelievable things actually happen. Here are a few stories from people who share some of the hardest-to-believe – but completely true – things about themselves…

I Played His Game With Him

My great-grandfather worked in the textile industry and started importing rayon fabric from Japan in the late 60s and 70s. This was during the early days of synthetic fabrics and travelling to Japan was not all that common in any industry. On one business trip in particular, he met some Japanese businessmen who were selling newly designed transistor radios.

His contacts wanted to set up an exclusive import agreement for their electronics to North America, but my great-grandfather declined because, “How many of these radios could you possibly sell?” Turns out that was a short-sighted business decision, because that company was called Sony Electronics. He turned down the exclusive import contract for a young Japanese electronics company called Sony. Reddit user: theironmanatee

Two Whole Statues

I was at a store when Tony Hawk was signing autographs. I was only 10 at the time and was a huge fan of his. One of his early video games had just come out and the store had a couple TVs on the wall that were hooked up to some consoles that had his game on them. Being a kid, I waited for someone to leave a controller.

A kid ended up leaving, so I grabbed the controller and started playing and minding my own business. A couple minutes later the store wanted to grab photos of Tony playing his own video game. He came over, grabbed the second controller, and began to play multiplayer with me. We probably played for about 10 minutes. The bonus was it was also my tenth birthday. So I played Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater with Tony Hawk on my birthday. Reddit user: [redacted]

In The Right Place At The Right Time

I’m a genealogy nerd, so I know a lot about where my family comes from – at least, on my mother’s side. My dad’s side is a weird, twisty mire of contradictory information and overly-sensitive relatives who get upset if you suggest something that isn’t English or Italian. Both of which are true, but we’re also a few other things that don’t fit in with their world view – but that’s another story.

Anyway, on my mom’s side, we’re Dutch. There are other things, too, but most significantly Dutch. Anyway, one of my Dutch ancestors has two statues in the Netherlands and the son of that man brought tulips to America in the 1700s – supposedly. They settled in Manhattan and, at one point, owned the land on Wall Street that the World Trade Center sat on. Reddit user: IGuessYouHaveAPoint

Duane’s Syndrome

I once won a $500 raffle during a routine visit to my local tea shop. It was the building’s annual Black Friday event and there were five baskets with varying amounts of goods, services, and coupons. I needed tea, so my only stop was the tea shop. It cost me $20 to fill my tea tins, but they said raffle tickets were given out after a $25 purchase.

I figured “why not?” and got a hot tea for me and the woman behind me in line. I entered the drawing with just one ticket. I got a call a few days later saying I won the top prize basket. When I went to claim it, they asked about my purchases. I told them and they said the drawings had over 1,000 tickets, and many people had over a dozen entries. The raffle prize included $25 for the tea shop, so you could say I won my money back. Reddit user: thisisdavecass

No Depth Perception

I can’t look left. Seriously. It’s called Duane’s Syndrome. My left eye can’t turn left, so if I try to look to my left I see double. Growing up, my parents raised me to believe it was a party trick, not a disability; which, in retrospect, I think was pretty sweet. So I’d always show it off to friends.

My mom knew something was off when I was a baby and she was doing the “airplane” motion with the spoon of baby food to the left and my left eye wasn’t cooperating. Fun fact: now that I’m in my 30s, I can see in photos that there’s a bag under my right eye, but not under my left eye, presumably because I use my right eye far more often. Reddit user: cubiclequeen

They Have No Shame

I can’t see 3D effects in movies or games. I didn’t know until a friend showed me his new Nintendo 3DS, and I told him it had to be a scam. It didn’t look any different to me than a normal DS. We had a fight over this because we both thought the other one was lying through their teeth.

“You’re holding it wrong! How do you not see this?” “Are you kidding me right now? There’s nothing 3D about this thing.” I always thought it had to do with being colorblind when I was younger since they used the colored lenses. Years later, I had a vision test where they use two images to check depth perception, and I failed miserably. Reddit user: 0xMii

I Just Can’t See It

I‘m related to an NFL player and you’d never know it. He’s 6’8”, 265 and black; I’m 6’0”, 195 and white. We’re second cousins through his mom – a 5’2” Irish woman – and grew up together. We’re very close and still stay in touch. I get to see him a couple times a year, and we pick up like nothing has changed.

Out of all the cousins, I think he spoils me because I’ve never once asked him for anything and I always turn down gifts, because it’s gift enough that we’re still as close as we are. It’s awesome enough to see what he’s become. It pisses me off when the family shamelessly asks him for money. Just because a family member made it big and has a lot of money doesn’t mean you’re entitled to it. Reddit user: PepperidgeFarmMembas

Everything And The Kitchen Sink

I can’t see images in my mind’s eye when I imagine something. It’s called aphantasia and it’s a relatively new concept that’s still being researched, I believe. If you were to tell me to close my eyes and imagine an apple, I don’t “see” the apple. I just see black. I’m completely incapable of visualizing anything inside my head.

I know what an apple looks like through memory, and I can describe an apple perfectly. But, I cannot “see” it in my mind. Almost all of my imagination consists of conversations, verbal remarks, and music. If someone asks me to recount a memory of a concert, for instance, I don’t see the stage or how it was set up, but I instantly recall the music. Reddit user: TewsdayAddams

We Hosted A Stakeout

My nose is crooked because my mother hit me with the kitchen sink. When I was eleven I was leaning into the sink to clean a bowl; my mother swiveled the faucet thinking it would swing right in front of me, but I was in perfect position for it to hit me directly across the nose. She freaked out more than I did.

It broke pretty cleanly, but healed crooked on my face. It isn’t at a crazy angle, and I can breathe and use it normally, but after folks look at my face long enough they always notice that “something’s not quite right.” It was a complete accident and she is a fantastic mother, but she made me promise to never tell anyone how it happened. Until now… Reddit user: Stevewhitman

He Made A Series Out Of It

My dad was on the drug task force and he once did a stakeout, from our living room window, on the house across the street from us. He and his coworkers were in our living room with all their equipment. When they sent in the undercover person, one of the first things they caught on tape was the suspect saying, “We have to be careful [my dad’s name] across the street is a cop.”

Everyone burst out laughing and almost disrupted the investigation. I was about eight at the time and thought I was so cool because I got to ‘help’ my dad in an investigation. They did, eventually, bust the guy. It just wasn’t that particular night. They had to come back another night to get enough evidence to make their case stand up. Reddit user: uffdaiprocrastinated

I Was Addicted To…

There was a successful manga series in Japan where I was the main character – real life name, looks, clothes, and everything. I didn’t know it at the time, but my new friend was a very famous manga artist and we had several adventures together – more like I showed my city/country off while they were visiting. Nothing you’d consider super special or interesting.

Anyway, about a year after the author returned to Japan, I received a parcel in the mail and inside was the signed first episode of the manga. The series became a hit and several more were made. No one believes me until I show them the manga. I still can’t believe that I impacted this person so much that they wanted to immortalize our adventures together. Reddit user: [redacted]

I Got Ambushed

I had a milk addiction for a while. I’d drink nearly a gallon of milk every single day. It turns out that the enzymatic digestion of l3-casein in milk releases beta-casomorphine-7, which has an addictive effect. It’s usually not a large enough concentration to have much of an effect, but because I drank so much milk, I started to get withdrawal symptoms if I didn’t have it on time.

I’d have to bring a couple of 2L cartons of milk to work with me every day. When I traveled to Germany to visit friends, I’d have to stop at the nearest supermarket wherever we went to buy milk. I even drank a glass of milk at the top of the Eiffel Tower – which, to my horror, they served me hot. The cashier at the first supermarket I went to in Germany looked at me in shock when I came to the counter with eight 1L cartons of milk (their entire stock of milk). Reddit user: Derwinx

I’ll Be Back

I was ambushed by two geese during a baseball game while I was catching. They came out of absolutely nowhere, saw that I was crouched behind home plate, and, I guess, decided “let’s mess this guy up.” My point here is that I had to box with a goose while I was essentially wearing full body armor. I didn’t have time to be embarrassed. It was a case of box or die.

It took two of my teammates to start smacking the fence nearby with bats and screaming for these geese to leave me alone and fly away. That was about four years ago and my friends from that team have called me “Goose” ever since. Geese are total jerks, dude. I’m not sure I’ll ever get over the trauma of the event. Reddit user: WoAProximity

When You Gotta Go…

When I was four years old, I kicked Arnold Schwarzenegger in the shin. I’d just recently watched The Terminator, so I was under the impression he was a bad guy. My parents tell me that Arnold picked me up by my coat and started laughing after I kicked him. My parents were embarrassed and trying to apologize to Arnold, but he just laughed it off.

Supposedly, there’s a picture of me and him somewhere. I mean, what a good sport, right? But, then again, who wouldn’t be amused by some little weirdo kicking them in the shins over a movie? Okay, probably quite a few people wouldn’t be happy about it, but not Arnold. Per family legend, I even said he’d better, “Watch out or I’ll be back” as my parents carried me away. Reddit user: Rampjones

Make A Wish

This happened when I was a little baby, not even a year old. My father was holding me, buck naked, over a balcony. Think Simba from The Lion King – just taking in what a majestic little creature he’d created. It was a super cute father-son moment. I, being a baby, decided this was a great time to relieve myself. Right in his face – like babies do.

The shock of my explosive urination caused my dad to let go of me. The balcony was three stories high. Luckily, I landed on a soft grass patch, just centimeters away from the concrete below. I managed to have a broken leg before I could even crawl, and had to be put in a little baby cast for a while. I don’t blame him. It had to be shocking. I feel so bad for him, but he and I can laugh about it now. He likes to tell everyone. Reddit user: [redacted]

I Can Smell You

For my seventh birthday I desperately wanted Sonic the Hedgehog for Sega – it was 1997. I didn’t have a Sega, but my Dad had one. My mom, however, was really against me having a video game because she thought it was a bad influence. My birthday came and went. No Sonic. A few days later, my mom and I went to our local mall. Right as you walk in, there’s this big fountain.

I loved making wishes in the fountain, so she gave me a quarter and I threw it in and wished for – you guessed it – Sonic the Hedgehog for Sega. We went about our business shopping and such and, as we were on our way out, I couldn’t help but notice something floating in the fountain. Upon further inspection, I realized what it was.

Lo and behold, it was that Sonic the Hedgehog game. The game’s completely soaked and the label is falling off, but it was the real deal. When we got home, I sprinted inside to the Sega, popped the cartridge in, and turned on the TV. I couldn’t believe my eyes as I watched the nostalgic SEGA video game logo pop up on the screen. It worked. Reddit user: jdubs09

You Make Too Much Noise

I have one superpower and one only. I’ve always been able to smell very well but, after a seizure some years ago, I acquired hyperosmia. Apparently it’s a side effect. Now, I can smell if a deer is in the woods behind my house, with a spike buck following, and a fox close behind. I can’t explain how I know, but I do.

I can also say that the doe is not the mother of the spike buck – that’s a young male deer with a deformed horn that looks like just one big spike sticking out of its head. I’ve lived around animals my whole life, but for the last few years, after my seizure, I know them by smell. It’s verifiable in the daylight. I don’t love it, but it doesn’t bother me. Some people get upset by it if they have the condition. Reddit user: mostlygray

Fries With A Side Of Marriage

I have hearing dyslexia. It’s formally known as central auditory processing disorder (CAPD). My brain often jumbles up things people say to me. I can’t understand the lyrics in music unless it’s like a cappella or something, and even then it’s hard. Loud noises freak me out, too. Or too much noise going on – it makes me feel totally overwhelmed and anxious.

Suffice it to say that social distancing hasn’t been an issue for me, because I detest crowded and noisy places anyway. But, man, is it weird. It’s something that I’ve lived with all my life, and I’d always get teased about being “quiet” or “shy” or never wanting to go out to clubs. No, it’s not because I have social anxiety, really; it’s because your noise overloads my brain. Reddit used: AMagnificentBiscuit

I Had To Learn To Smile

A few years ago I was out late drinking and stopped at a fast food drive through to get my friend some food – I didn’t order anything for some reason. The cute guy at the window asked if we had everything and I said, “No, you forgot my number five.” I was just being silly, because I was drunk.

He said to hold on and turned around to get it for me. I was surprised he didn’t charge me but, when I saw he added fries, I was in love. I asked him if he wanted to get married and he said yes. So, I gave him my number and now, years later, he’s got another job, we got engaged, have a baby boy, and are looking to set a date for our wedding after this craziness is over. Reddit user: 9curlyfries9

I Didn’t Know My Own Name

I’m a 29-year-old married female with autism spectrum disorder, level one. It doesn’t matter how many times I explain it, I still get the “I don’t see it,” “They get those things wrong all the time,”  “Everyone’s a little autistic,” and “But you’re married” remarks. As if any of those things somehow makes my condition fake or means I’m a liar.

I was in therapy for many years putting together this puzzle that is my mind, and we’ve finally figured it out. “Mild” autism only means that people on the outside experience very few of my symptoms, but I still suffer greatly. I’ve nailed eye contact and can be great at masking (faking it in social situations with scripts and facial expressions I’ve developed over time) when I need to be. I’ll never forget my mom having to teach me how to smile as a child, and so many other very obvious things. Reddit user: bellavie

April Fools

I didn’t know what my real first name was until the second grade. I was given my nickname by my great-grandmother when I was three days old, and it stuck. One day in second grade there was a substitute teacher, and she did attendance after lunch. She gets to my name and calls out a name none of us had heard before.

We’re looking around and saying that there’s no one by that name. It wasn’t until she said my last name that I kind of perked up and said, “That’s MY last name, but that isn’t my first.” She said it was, and invited me to come up and look at the class list. Sure enough, there was my real first name, followed by my nickname, and then my last name.

When I got home and my mother saw my real name on my papers, she asked why that was there. After I cried for a bit (thinking I’d done something wrong…I was little), she simply said, “Oh, that’s your first name,” and never gave me an explanation of why no one had ever told me. Reddit user: ProjectShadow316

I Made The Whole Thing Up

My birthday is April first. When I tell someone, it normally takes a minute to convince them I’m serious and is then followed by numerous jokes I’ve heard for years already. Here’s a fun story, though: when I was in second grade, it was common to take cupcakes or something to class to share on your birthday. So, naturally, I did that on my birthday, too.

Predictably, my birthday also being April Fool’s Day, my teacher was convinced it was a prank and actually took them away. Later she realized that she’d made a mistake. She brought them back out, apologized to me in front of everyone, and we celebrated before the end of the day. I was really upset at first, but it was really validating to have her apologize and explain to the class that she was wrong, and that you should never be afraid to admit it and ask for forgiveness. Reddit user: fimbres16

I Know What Happened

In 1998, I started the myth that Daddy Long Legs have the world’s strongest venom, but no teeth to bite someone. I was 15 at the time, and my dad was a travelling salesman. (This will be relevant in a second.) He used to sell Persian rugs to the manor houses and hotels. This one time we were in Cornwall, stopping in one of the hotels my dad used to sell to, and the receptionist had three of them hovering around her.

She was really frustrated with them, so knowing full well that they’re completely harmless, I told her that they have enough venom in them to kill 100 men, but the Daddy Long Legs’ teeth aren’t strong enough to pierce your skin. The manager overheard and asked my dad if that was true.

My dad played along and said he studied insects. He even called them a made up Latin name that I can’t remember. We laughed it off and I forgot all about it until, about seven years later, I started having people telling me this as a scientific fact, and I told them it’s a load of garbage that I made up. No one believes me, but it’s 100% true. Reddit user: [redacted]

Accidental Aristocrat

When I was six years old, a small twister or dust tornado formed over the one small dirt patch in our school’s field. I walked directly into it and got lifted about a foot off the ground. I guess my body weight broke it up because, after three seconds, it gently floated me back down to the ground. It was such a cool experience.

But, even though there was a teacher and like 15 other kids outside, nobody saw me. The teacher only half believed me because she saw me covered in dirt particles. It didn’t matter how much I insisted that it had happened – I don’t think my mother ever believed me. It doesn’t matter, though. I know what happened and I’m sticking to it. Reddit user: [redacted]

Struck Twice

I’m a noble in Ireland because my grandmother had dual citizenship and owned land over there, technically making her a Lady. According to her will, I inherited her land and when I turned 21. I was to get the property and assets that came with it – making me a Lady, as well. Not exactly the route I figured you’d take to become aristocracy, but okay.

Anyway, I was contacted by my grandfather a few years ago and asked if I still wanted the property. He said all the assets were taken care of and I could go see it anytime I wanted. I said that I did, so we did all the paperwork, and mailed it in to the UN. In about a week, I’ll have all the paperwork and proof of my Ladyship. I still kind of don’t believe it. Reddit user: nerdyreader004

That’s How We Met Weezer

I’ve been struck by lightning on two different occasions. Once while doing electrical work outside and barefoot on an aluminum ladder. The ladder was sitting in the wet mud during a lightning storm. The lights went out, so I had to go see if I could fix it. Lightning struck me and flowed through my shoulder to the wet mud, which saved my life.

The second time I was working on an electrical line from inside a man-lift (or a cherry picker) in a lightning storm. Lightning zapped the line and fried the transformer. That singed the cable, which fell (live and hot) into the bucket of the lift, and then lightning struck me. I fell about 30 feet from the lift. I’m lucky to be alive. Reddit user: [redacted]

He Was Being Lazy

Not me but my mom. My mom is a ride-or-die M&M candy character fan. So much so that she has written permission to decorate her car with the characters from the owners of M&M. A few years ago we went to Las Vegas where the M&M store is. It was the first place we went and she had me stand in the middle of traffic to take a picture of her and her M&M car in front of the store. Later in the week we went to that huge iHeartMusic Radio Festival.

Now, my mom is a rule breaker so she starts seat hopping closer to the stage, then she gets the bright idea to go backstage. And how does she do it? She uses the picture of her M&M car and a few pieces of her memorabilia. The backstage guard was convinced she was an M&M rep and let us in. So, that’s how my mom got a super blurry picture of Weezer, because she can talk her way back stage, but can’t use a camera. Reddit user: umm1234–

My Sweat Is Blue

I was walking in the airport with my friend behind this dude who was wearing a hoodie, sunglasses, and riding a hoverboard – it was when they first came out and were relevant. I was pointing out to my friend that he was being lazy by not walking. Honestly, I was super jealous of that dude. I wanted a hoverboard, too. They were just so expensive.

There was this tiny girl walking alongside him and another bulky dude. They kept walking straight through the doors and onto a private plane as my friend and I found some seats to wait for our flight to board. A TSA guy came up to us afterward to let me know we’d been making fun of Tyga and that it was Kylie Jenner walking next to him with her bodyguard. Of course it was. Reddit user: hpgryffin

I Helped The FBI

I have a condition called chromhidrosis. When I work out really hard and get hot, the sweat on my face is literally dark blue. Not my whole face, though. Just little pockets here and there that look like specks of dirt. Sometimes I forget about it and people who see me point at my face to “help” me by letting me know I have dirt on my face.

I’ve never met anyone else who has it, and the few people I’ve explained it to didn’t believe me. Apparently, it can be other colors besides blue, too. Some people have red or pink sweat. I guess, on the bright side, at least it doesn’t look like I’ve got blood on my face. Can you imagine the stares I’d get? Reddit user: Flying Virtuoso

They Just Came Back…

I was working at a gas station and helped the FBI catch a serial bank robber. They suspected he’d been around scoping out a bank across the street. They told me when he would’ve come through, so I pulled up the surveillance footage – which I technically wasn’t supposed to know how to do. We had him on camera from six different angles.

He was later arrested, but I’m not sure how things went after that. My mom recycled the only evidence of that I had: the card of one of the agents. I got it after I rolled my eyes and said, “Okay, guys,” when they came in and told me they were FBI. Then they showed me identification and gave me a card. Cool dudes. They were very patient while I was multitasking – dealing with customers and finding footage. Reddit user: CornSama

Crimson And Clover

My tonsils grew back after being removed. I went in one day and I got them removed, but 10 days later they started bleeding and I had to have emergency surgery to stop the bleeding. Six weeks after that, I received a letter from the hospital apologizing and letting me know I’d been exposed to MRSA (a bacterial infection that you get from hospitals) while having the emergency surgery, and I was likely a carrier for it now. Great.

A few weeks after that my throat was hurting and when I looked at it in a mirror there were some white spots and weird lumps in the back of my mouth. I went to the doctor, paranoid it was something to do with the MRSA, only to be told that I had tonsillitis. “But, I’ve had my tonsils removed,” I said. “Yeah, they’ve grown back,” says doc. I didn’t even know that was possible. Reddit user: dinkykitten

I Got Stuck In My Own Traffic Jam

My neighbors’ cousin was a drummer. His band’s usual practice place wasn’t available for some reason, so they practiced at our neighbor’s house. I was over there once while they were working on a new song when I was about six years old, playing with toy cars. The singer was singing through a guitar amp, because they didn’t bring a PA.

I don’t know who stepped on the foot switch, but he started singing with the tremolo on – that wavering, ‘warbly’ effect. Have you ever heard the song Crimson and Clover by Tommy James and the Shondells? That was it. I was there when they were working on it. I, of course, was six and my toy cars were vastly more important to me than some grownups. Reddit user: OriginalIronDan

Bill And Paul

I was travelling to work when my car blew a timing belt on an overpass. Because that’s where the car troubles always happen. I called a tow truck, turned on my hazard lights, and then called a cab. As I came home in the cab, the tow truck operator called and said there was an accident and cops were now involved. Perfect. I asked him to give them my details.

So, I got on my motorcycle at home since I still needed to go back to work. I get back on the highway and traffic is backed up all the way to my exit. Stupid me, I should have taken another way. Lady next to me says out her window, “What’s going on?” I said a Mazda was involved in an accident up the road. She gave me this really weird look. I felt kind of dumb for just abandoning my car there, but I’m glad I did. I could have been killed. Reddit user: Alexfromeast

We Can’t Reschedule

Back in the early 1970s, my grandpa was really getting into computers and programming. He was staying at this hotel when he met two men called Bill and Paul. My grandpa was at the bar, and started chatting with one of them. The guy, named Bill, had this idea to make a program where 0s and 1s correspond to English letters.

My grandpa was fascinated by this idea, and since he had a few ideas that they could potentially collaborate on, they all agreed to meet for breakfast the following morning. My grandpa came down for breakfast, but never saw them again. Several years later, Microsoft Word came out. My grandpa got stood up by Bill Gates and Paul Allen. Who knows what would’ve happened if they didn’t leave that hotel early. Reddit user: ItsNieth

Decaf Or Death

My mom’s due date to give birth to me was on Christmas. My grandparents were pillars of their community and always had a huge party at their house the day before Christmas, complete with valet parking, black tie waiters, full bar, and awesome catering. My mom grew up with these parties and always loved them. My father was a resident doctor at the local hospital.

Neither of my parents, or my grandparents, wanted to be “burdened” with me being born and possibly interrupting the annual party, so my dad made arrangements to have my mom’s labor induced two weeks before the party. I was born December 10, 1968, and I was always told that year was the biggest party my grandparents ever had, and my mom and dad hired a nanny to take care of me. It’s not as funny to me as it is to them. You really couldn’t reschedule your party? Reddit user: Pocketeer1

That’s Where The Scar Came From

I might die if I drink coffee. I have an intolerance to caffeine. The main symptom is that my heart goes crazy. It feels like it’s going to explode out of my chest. A considerable amount of chocolate can increase it about 20bpm for half an hour, for example. I first found out when I tried a caffeine-based medication for an energy problem I was having.

I took the first two tablets and, for the next three days, my heart rate was consistently over 110bpm and just pounding. I got less than twelve hours of sleep over that time period. I don’t have any underlying heart conditions, right now I’m young and healthy, but as my heart wears out with age consuming certain amounts of caffeine – such as those in your average coffee – could put my life at risk. Reddit user: Kangakatt

Run Over On A Hayride

When I was younger, I saw a few of those Capri Sun commercials that showed kids blowing up their Capri Sun and stomping on it. It was really, really cool to me at the time. But, I thought I could take this a step further, so I blew it up, and threw it into a bonfire. What could go wrong? Famous last words.

The Capri Sun built up pressure and shot the straw out of the pouch at the speed of light. The straw flew through the air and struck my hand. The molten plastic straw burnt the skin on my hand; needless to say I have a scar on my left hand because of this. No one believes that’s how I got that scar. Mostly because they think I couldn’t be dumb enough to have done that. How wrong they are… Reddit user: TheKellenMiller

Learning From One Of The Greats

I survived being run over as a child. I was on a hayride with dozens of other kids at a birthday party. I was knocked off by some boys who were roughhousing next to me. One of the back wheels of the trailer crushed my pelvis. I nearly made a full recovery. One of my hips is still a little out of whack. I have a wicked tire track across my back.

It was super traumatic then, though. Pretty sure my mom threatened to sue someone. She signed a waiver, but she was one of those I-need-to-talk-to-a-manager types. Still is. Nothing she could do about it. The hayride company did help pay for some of the bills, but that was just a courtesy to get her to not start screaming about them in the streets. Reddit user: joycefanoneofmany

I took cooking classes from Julia Child. When I was in first grade she’d visit my school on occasion and teach us how to make things. The only one I remember distinctly was strawberry shortcake. We had no real idea how big a deal it was, but our teachers and parents got excited. It didn’t even dawn on me that she was famous until years later.

In fact, it wasn’t until that movie Julie & Julia came out that I realized the significance and the value of being taught by Julia Child. I really wish I could go back in time and pay more attention to her lessons. I’d ask so many questions. Most importantly, I’d ask how to bone a duck. Totally useful in everyday life, right? Reddit user: Sbtoby