Janna was my first real girlfriend. We were a hot item in Mrs. Whiting’s Kindergarten class. As we sat around the little table during class, I couldn't help but notice how pretty she was and how good she could color. During our recess time, I confirmed my manly prowess during our games of tag and hide-n-seek. I parked my candy-apple red and yellow racing bicycle out front on the sidewalk. Nobody messed with it and I made sure of that!
In first grade, Danny and I talked on the playground on the first day of school. It was my first experience with recess–one of the beloved parts of elementary school I actually enjoyed. He wondered who my girlfriend was. I hadn't seen Janna that morning and wasn't sure if he knew her anyway. So I pointed out a pretty brown-haired girl climbing up the slide.
“There she is!” I said.
“Oh, you like Stacey?” he said in disbelief. “She’s cool!”
Actually, I didn't even know who Stacey was up till that time. She wasn't in my class. I just figured it was important to point out a girl - any pretty girl - if your best friend asked who your girlfriend was!
In second grade, I fell head-over-heels for a beautiful girl named Diana. She was the most gorgeous woman I knew. Our families got together for dinner occasionally. Even though I was a shy, timid little kid, I did not let that get in the way of wooing Diana. One evening her family planned to have dinner with mine. I picked her up on my bike for our dinner-date. Having her ride behind me as I took her to my house was an incredible experience. I knew I had the coolest bike in town and the prettiest girlfriend!
One weekend, I talked Julie into inviting Diana over for a sleepover. I invited Barry so things wouldn't look so obvious. All weekend, I played with Diana and Julie hung out with Barry. It was a bold move to plan and implement such an intricate strategy to bolster my love life. But it worked.
I cried when Diana’s family moved away the next year. I missed her every day for the next couple years and wished somehow there was a way to see her or write to her. It wasn't until I was a senior in high school that I would run into her again. My heart nearly stopped when those old fond memories instantly flooded back.
For the next few years, I was in and out of love with Tammy, Wendy, Shannon, and Kryss. In fifth and sixth grade, Wendy’s house was located on the bluff that overlooked the practice field where my football team worked out. I imagined she was always up there watching how incredibly tough and awesome my playing was. I needed an audience and just imagining she was there made my game and playing ability that much better.
In eighth grade, I got a love note from Kryss. She was the most popular girl in school and one that I really liked. She was not only very pretty, but very smart as well. She was also a cheerleader and very athletic. I got her note just after the school play that I had a lead part in. Apparently, she liked my performance. For nearly half the year, our relationship was propped-up by notes and shy glances. I was too bashful to be in a real relationship with her and I am sure she had no idea how to approach this shy kid! I really wanted to be with her and get to know her better, but didn't have a clue how.
Around Christmas, we met at a big school dance and danced every song together. After one song, she kissed me on the cheek and that is the first time I felt my knees buckle and become weak. I still remember the song that was played. "How Deep is Your Love," by the Bee Gees.
Later that year, I had my eye on this beautiful seventh grade woman named Sara who always seemed to have another boy hanging around. However, near the end of that school year, I saw my chance to make a move. There was a small window of opportunity when she broke up with her boyfriend. I mustered all the courage I could and sat next to her on the bus.
In those Junior High School days, it was customary to "ask a girl to go with you." I tried it once. I wrote a note to the one who was the girl of my dreams for that particular month. I folded it in a complicated, but unique way, and handed it to her in the hallway between class. My note read something like this. "You are cool. I really like you. Will you go with me? Yes...No..."
Every kid knew after the note was delivered, it was up to the girl to respond. Proper decorum involved the requirement for the girl to check one of the boxes next to either the 'Yes' answer or the 'No' answer and return the note. If the answer was NO, then the whole deal was off. It was rejection and it was humiliating!
However, if the girl responded with a 'Yes" then things were really official! It meant we could hold hands, sit by each other, and exchange gifts at Christmas. Also, if some other boy flirted with my girl or even talked nicely to her, I could act furious and threaten to "break-up with her!" It was just the natural order of things.
Sara was a smart girl. She was a year behind me in school and I started liking her at the beginning of my 8th grade year. It seems she transformed into a woman overnight. I don’t know if it was her new hair style, different wardrobe, or the fact that she moved in closer to my circle of friends. But I fell so hard for her that year, I couldn't think of anything or anyone else. She had everything going for her like perfect hair, a perfect figure, and a bubbly personality that made me so happy every time I was with her. Even though I felt like a fish-out-of-water when I was around her, I just smiled and hoped for the best...or for a miracle. I never wrote her a note asking her to "go with me."
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