OK, so you guys know that I now live in the same town in which I sort of grew up, right? I say ‘sort of’ because I moved here when I was about 10 and moved away in my very early 20’s. Though I never, ever thought I’d (ever) come back, come back I did, 20 years later, after my marriage ended. Coming ‘home’ is always a weird thing, I think, and this experience has definitely proved so for me. This place is very different than it was in many ways, but it’s still very much the same in others (which is sometimes good... sometimes not). Occasionally I’ll run into old classmates or kids I used to babysit or the parents of old friends… and I always (stupidly) expect them to look the same as they did the last time I saw them. And sometimes they do… sort of.
So, on Friday I went to the Rec Center to sign Ryan up for ski lessons. I’m standing at the desk, looking like holy hell, as I have the flu and haven’t showered. I’m not 100% sure I’d even brushed my hair (or my teeth… yeah... I know), but the ski package is a Christmas present and my neighbor told me there were only 9 spaces left, so I had to run over there quick. So, I’m holding onto the counter, trying to keep from passing out (as my temperature is about 102), when this guy comes up beside me to check in to use the gym. He gives his last name, “D****t”. It’s a very unusual name. And one I recognize immediately. I look sideways at him and realize that I’m standing next to one of the very first boys I ever loved. And by ‘loved’ I mean ‘I wrote Mr. and Mrs. Chris D****t on all my notebooks, circled by hearts and flowers, and kissed my pillow pretending it was him, and imagined going to prom and then getting married when we were old, like 25’... that kind of 'loved'. Yeah, you know it. We met at summer camp when I was 12. And he was CU-UTE. I was NO-OT. But he thought I was. And that made him even better.
I can honestly say he’s not someone I ever imagined I’d see again. And he’s still pretty cute (not CU-UTE, but that’s hard to maintain when you’re in your 40’s... and I'm hardly one to talk, given the crap-fest that was Diane that day... oh hell, lots of days). Of course, his cute factor could have been influenced by the fever-induced haze through which I was seeing the world on Friday. Not sure. Oh, and you know I was totally sick because I didn’t check out his ring finger, which I never miss. But... I might find a reason to go back to the Rec Center this Friday, around 3:30 or so… you know… just for old time’s sake. And yeah, don’t worry… I’ll be sure to brush my hair… and teeth... and wear make-up... and heels... and my skinny jeans. OK, just kidding. They'd have to be magic jeans... sigh.
26 comments:
Mother of the year, you should be proclaimed, for prancing around town with a 102 fever. GO TO BED!
Running into ol' skool acquaintances and/or friends is always a trip. However, if I were to run into one of my first crushes from back in the day, I'm not quite sure how I'd respond.
"Old like 25" LOL. So it isn't just something I made up in my head then...Great!
Hope you feel better. I also spent the weekend with the flu. Booo hiss.
Don't you love how you ALWAYS run into those kinds of people when you're looking your absolute worst? At least that's the way it always works with me. Dress me up, make me over - I won't see a damn soul I know. Roll me out of bed with no make up and knots in my hair - I'll see EVERYONE. Never fails.
Hope you're feeling better. And hope your trip back to the rec center goes smoothly!! Fresh breath might help.
Damn, I thought for a moment you were serious about dem magic jeans.
Meeting your first love again might just be the perfect cure for that fever..
Ha, the only time I ever ran into someone I'd dated (the Rebound, fyi) I looked hot, and he told me so, and I said thanks so much and kept walkin'.
Here's hoping run-in mk II goes fabulously!
also, flu sucks, hope you're better soon!
hell yeah! turn it up!
wishing you the best of luck. we expect all the details when you surface in a few days.
Cat... I'm sick of bed... I'm sick of being sick. Grrr.
Josh... you could do what I did... absolutely nothing.
HP... ick... hope you're better soon, too!
Heather... fresh breath never hurts. It's why I chew Eclipse gum. That stuff is what miracles are made of.
Mo... I was I was serious about dem magic jeans. Damn.
HLiza... I'm thinking aspirin might work better ;)
Belle... yeah, that'd never happen to me. I'm always the one who thinks, 'damn, he looks good. I look like something the dog dragged in.' Not fair.
JST... you're getting (WAY) ahead of yourself darlin'... or ahead of me! There will likely be no details... ever... for the rest of my life it seems... sigh. But thanks for the vote of confidence!
you know you only run into those kind of people when you have the flu and havent showered....
did you tell him who you were? did he remember you? did he know you?
Mo... that should have been 'I WISH I was serious...' Sick. Still sick.
Dcap... ummm... no. I didn't say a word. When you look (and smell) like I did, you make yourself as invisible as possible. I was running the risk of having people run screaming from the room as it was.
He should be able to just sense what he's missing out on regardless of your mild dishevelment.
Mild dishevelment? Oh, darlin', that's like calling Niagara Falls a little trickle. But thanks for trying... xo
I'm trying to imagine you as a preteen doing the notebook scribbles and prom fantasies. The mental image is too amusing to truly contemplate.
Just imagine, Ry will hit that stage soon. Fun, fun.
Awwww this could be the beginning of a Lifetime special. Seriously. Maybe he's rich now and has a cat that would love your dog as much as you, and a big house and really, after the haze of flu, you find him to be CU-UTE still and then you fall in love but only after tripping or something equally as clumsy in which case he'd have to save you from yourself....*sigh*....
it could happen...
hope you get to see him again!
So funny! You definitely have to don some stilettos and a good "boob" shirt next time and snag his digits!
This is funny because I just found the first boy I kissed (yes, the one that tasted like hot tamales) on Facebook and he added me as a friend. HA! good times.
A cup of tea and a wee lie down is called for, I suspect.
The things we do for our kids, eh?
Yay, you supermom!
I only ever run into people like that when I look (more) like crap (than usual)!
You could always go in on Friday and say "Hi, my sister told me you were here..."
Kendall... I already see her getting her flirt on... it's disturbing.
Shanna... be careful... you could hurt yourself with an imagination that vivid.
Petra... the boob shirt I've got!
J Cosmo... done and done.
Jane!... yeah, I've got to stop looking like crap.
Lee... I like the way you think... that might work...
How cute are you? I love this story!
Diane - loved this!
Did he recognized you? But I guess not, if you are having thoughts of going back again.;)
Yeah, I returned 'home' after 18 years and run into old school classmates all the frikggn time. I hardly ever remember their names, just faces, so it's always a 'moment' when I have to ask them who the heck they are again. Nice.
it's funny how even at forty-something we tend to buy into the beauty thing. I learned (and a lot of us do) that the wrapping on a Xmas present has no bearing on what is inside. Yes, some of the best gifts come in plain brown paper bags. One just has to be brave enough to unwrap any gift put in their lap. Of course this is easy for me to say as I sit on the shelf in the return department.
Wait, you didn't actually get his attention right? So you have a chance. Gotta do the ring finger dance girly!
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