ChuckleBerry.Net - What is a ChuckleBerry Anyway?

"What is a 'ChuckleBerry' Anyway?"

Back in mid 1998 I was taking a business course that included a unit on public speaking. I really enjoyed it and was learning a lot about various things, including eye contact and how sometimes a little humor can spice up an otherwise dull presentation. We were taught not to 'read' from our notes, how to ad-lib, etc. It was actually a very good course.

So anyway, after the business course had ended, I was asked to speak on behalf of the students at a presentation to the city for funding the school to continue their program. My first "real" speech ... I was thrilled (and terrified - I mean, what if I was crappy ... so crappy that the school didn't get the funding and it'd be all my fault!!!) Silly, huh? *hehe* Anyway, it went well, I did alright, and yes - the school got it's funding (but not as a direct result of my presentaton! *lol*)

Afterwards, I was pumped! I liked it! I was looking for almost any reason to get up in front of people and present something ... anything! (Well, okay I wasn't quite that bad ... but it did feel pretty good knowing that if I had to, I could do it! *smiles*)

All during this time my mom and dad had become associates of a business and were doing well, and they thought maybe I'd be interested too - After all, I did like meeting new people and talking! So they invited me to come along to a new Christmas Line presentation and check things out.

We got to the conference and found seats right up front and center. Looking back, I almost feel sorry for the poor speaker (and anyone else that was within earshot! *hehe*). The guy got up to do his presentation and (I'm sorry) but SO needed help! (Keeping in mind I had just finished a unit in this sort of thing and so of course I knew everything!).

I couldn't help it! The poor guy stayed behind his podium, reading from his cue cards, looking up occasionally at the slides he was showing us ... my mom and I started giggling quietly at each other and I was making little quips on the presentation - like where he could add a little something here, or do something there ... my dad was rolling his eyes at us and at one point the speaker looked over at me and kind of smiled after a comment I had made ... but I guess my mom and I thought no one else could hear us (or at least I thought so!).

So anyway, this guy was going through the new Christmas catalogue, talking about each item (basically reading the descriptions from the book) but he had started to loosen up a little bit and was actually smiling now and looking up at people.

Then he got to this one item for kids ... "ChuckleBerry Lip Gloss" ... and he actually paused and ad-libbed! He looked up and with a little laugh said, "Hrm, what is a ChuckleBerry anyway?" Well this lady who was sitting behind us got up, put her hand down on my shoulder and said, "Here's one!"

Well - everyone laughed, including me and the speaker. The poor man basically gave up on the rest of his notes at that point. The rest of the presentation went off very well.

Afterwards, there was tea and treats and people could wander around and check things out. The speaker who did the presentation came up to me and laughed and shook my hand and said, "So - You're the ChuckleBerry, huh?!" and the name kind of stuck from there. *lol*

I told a few friends about what happened and they started calling me "ChuckleBerry", also my parents thought it suited me and well ... here I am!

Christina Harvie aka "ChuckleBerry"