Today I remember a very special day for the younger me. The younger me fell in love for the first time at age 14. I was, of course, somewhere that I wasn't supposed to be. My mom thought was rollerskating (GOD Mom! REALLY? Rollerskating??? It was the 80's, not the sockhop!) I met a 15 year old boy who was a dead ringer (in my mind) for Joe Elliott of Def Leppard, circa Bringin' On the Heartbreak (original version without all the keyboard stuff). I was obsessed with Joe Elliott. I had actually met this boy, (not Joe Elliott or else this story would be much different) him a month earlier in this Forbidden Zone where a bunch of us potheads/burnouts hung out. I was always a fringe member. I'd dabble but never become a card carrying member myself.
We smoked. I left without his phone number. I was smitten. All I knew was his first name and that he was from a neighboring town. For weeks I would call every phone number in the white pages that signified his town. I tried not to sound crazy. I'd never felt this way before.
A month later, I saw him again. And this time wasn't leaving without his baby. I mean, number. I wrote it in blue cover girl eyeliner, the kind with the "smudger" on the end of it that always got gross. Great in concept though if you were older than 14 and kept your stuff hygenic. Back then we'd swap gum between classes back and forth. I ended up with eye liner all over my face because well, I was 14 and dumb. And nervous. And had to go wash up after having them all go Carrie Like, laughing at me.
I left memorizing his number. He kissed me and the song blaring from the pothead hangout was by that 80's gangsta, Kenny Loggins, "I'm Free" from the Footloose soundtrack. He had to go on vacation within a few days but promised to call when he got back.
Long story short, he did. He asked me out 28 years ago today. We had all the bumps that go with the scene, break ups, make ups and long after school sessions unsupervised in his room. I ended up pregnant in the 1st half of my senior year.
Today, although we aren't together, we share a grandpyre, (Hey, I love vampires. He can be one for 42 year old MeMe). The feeling that I got when I first saw him so long ago is now what I know as something that involves the Soul. I've felt it a few times afterward, upon meeting friends, upon meeting significant others. Very few. This was my first taste and it was the most important one as it presented us with numerous life lessons and a beautiful daughter and years later, our grandson.
He probably wouldn't remember what today is, but that's ok. It was a special experience and I'm happy to remember the longing, the desire, dreams, promises, heartbreak and continuance of life from it.
