I am having some major issues with the blog today. Getting up early, leaving for another trip to Chicago, and setting a post to auto-publish is never my favorite thing, but I did it and hit the road and didn’t have another thought about it.
Until very late in the day.
So, sit tight. Things are being fixed and there is help on the way.
But I promised a story now that you see how funky my blog is acting right now.
SO.
Two weeks ago when I was traveling the great state of Illinois a friend asked if he could have drinks with me. He is an old friend and I met him when I was in fourth grade. He has recently found me on Facebook and we have had a lot of fun getting to know one another as adults. Chad is the first boy I kissed and my memory of it is vivid. We were in my bedroom in the lower part of our house and his cousin and my sister had to force us to kiss. There’s not a lot that a fourth grade memory affords but being nervous and hoping that you don’t screw up your first kiss ranks right up there with one of the things I’ve done that I hope I did right. Basically, they pushed us together until our lips met. The only other details I remember is that it was summer and we’d played a lot of flag football in our neighborhood and we’d also did this due to pressure. Of course I wanted to kiss a boy! I was 10! I was curious!
When Chad read my Facebook status that I’d be in Chicago he asked if he could see me and I couldn’t wait to see him. Via messages we’d talked about the fact that we had kissed and to my horror he told me that HE HAD NO RECOLLECTION OF THE DEED.
I was mortified. Especially because my memory held it for such a long time.
He knew what hotel I was staying at and we exchanged cell phone numbers so he could meet up with me. We planned to meet at the hotel bar and Chad even told me that he had worked at that hotel many years ago so he knew exactly where this bar was so this wasn’t going to be any kind of logistical problem.
It’s been 20 plus years since I’ve seen him. We exchanged one text message prior to meeting up. I was hoping to play catch up for a few hours and to get to know him as an adult so to say that I was excited is an understatement. We determined a time and then we met at the Chi Bar to catch up and see what each other looked like and how we behaved as adults. It was the most lovely time I’ve had in quite some time. Chad was charming, delightful, and funny as hell. I had one of those times where I let out the obnoxious laugh and I don’t even care who hears me.
Also? Chad brought his boyfriend. His sweet, cute, doctor boyfriend.
The awesomeness doesn’t STOP with me.
The moral of the story: My kisses are quite forgettable.
*My blog will be fixed soon. Really, I’m so sorry about the timing, but you’ve probably come to expect that from me.
Ha! Doesn’t get any better than that.
I remember seeing you that night! Which one was he?
Perhaps your kisses prepared him somehow, set a standard as he sought his prince?
Years and years (and years and years) ago, when I was a camp counselor, I had a huge crush on my supervisor. At our end-of-year party, he and I talked and laughed on a porch late into the night. I was DYING to kiss him but I was too scared. Two years later, I finally worked up the courage to tell him. I pre-Google tracked him down, called him, took a breath and almost had the words out when he yelled into the phone excitedly, “I AM SO HAPPY YOU CALLED! Because I am out of the big old closet and I really wanted you to know!”
Sigh. The blessing of it all? He is one of my best friends and we still laugh and talk the way we did on the porch that night. It’s just that now he gives me a lot better advice on doing naughty stuff with boys than he did when I was a camp counselor working for him.
There’s no moral. Unless you’re seeking that kind of advice, too. Just saying, I hear you, honey.
Priceless
Cat, he was the cute one (DUH) that was taller than me and we were giggling it up all night long.
Hi, CHAD!
Too funny!
Makes up for the contest/problematic blog – not that I can’t figure where/how to enter, it’s just that I can’t enter (I’m Canadian!). Boo!
It is ok we all have a path we choose to follow and we leave footprints in people’s lives for a reason. You left a print on his life maybe just not both feet!
Ohhh, this is TOO familiar. I was thrilled recently when I found a guy friend of mine from highschool. He was more like a brother . . .but very dear. I was so excited to find him on Facebook . . . he too is a doctor, and has a boyfriend as well – pictures and all . . . .sighhhhh . . . . My husband has nothing to worry about! LOL!
HA!!!!!!!! THAT IS TOOOOOOO FUNNY!!!! CRACKING UP!
Your kisses probably aren’t forgettable. Just adjust your perspective a little. What level of interest does kissing a girl hold for someone with no interest in girls? There’s a Gedanken experiment to go to bed with.
Great story. Wow, the places lives go are not always the path we’d choose ourselves. At least you had a great night in Chicago!
I’ve just found your blog and have been enjoying it.
i just found your blog and had a great time going through your old posts! i’ll definitely be back to read along!
The ones that got away often have a boyfriend. Le sigh.
That’s it. I’m not kissing you now.
Oh, my goodness. I was not expecting it to go there, but it did. Wow.
Oh hunny! No wonder he didn’t remember your first kiss. He’s been busy! HILARIOUS!!
Now that is hella funny, LOL
I just had another horrible thought. A cliche, but still worth considering putting into the mix… maybe you damaged him, scared him off women.
Don’t feel bad though, 2 of my high school girlfriends have girlfriends now.
In 7th grade I dated a much older man- 8th grader. We traveled to his basement for some exploration… oh, my a little much a little fast.. Fast forward to facebook two months ago- He is absolutely gorgeous, a model even- drop dead gorgeous-
Yeah, he’s a big gay boy- but, hey, I’m a big gay girl- so it all turned out okay!
Oh no….this just reminds me to never look up old loves and dash the memories into reality.
trisha
Now, that’s funny!
I too am “sorry” is that it took so long to respond to this post that included me (which I am honored to be in).
Where do I begin? Meeting up with Kelly after 20 years was one of the best nights of my life yes…….my life. I created a cherished memory that evening. Lately as I grow older and wiser (I think), one thing has really always nagged me and that is losing touch with people. I have been guilty of being lazy and not picking up a phone but I have to say when someone touches my life and I consider a friend I do a damn good job of trying to touch base once in a while. It makes me sad when ex co-workers, friends and even family drop off the face of the earth. Its easy people!! I mean with blogs, facebook, twitter, email, iphones, webcams, etc. there is no reason to disappear from me. GOT IT??
I often find myself disappointed and sad with the world (yes the entire world….I am dramatic) for this. I miss these people terribly. Life just unfortunately seperates us. I am left feeling I have lost something important. Maybe its part of growing up or old. Do we have to let this happen? I don’t think I want to.
THEN……….something like this happens. I find Kelly on Facebook and BAM….instant connection. Its like we never lost touch and we just started making each other laugh. Here is a woman that I remember being a true “Warrior” in high school. Today……she is one of the strongest, smartest, kindest souls I have ever met. Did I mention tough? She is like a bull in Spain…..f*ck with her and you get a horn up the ass and flipped over a wall. This is truly someone I wished I had kept in touch with for the past 20 years.
That night we had 4 or 5 hours of such wonderful, thought provoking conversation. I blinked and it was over. During the evening I caught myself looking out of the window at the river and skyline and thought…….”Now SHE is what makes the world a better place.” I am not questioning the world anymore. If I can re-kindle one friendship like this every twenty years then it makes up for all of the others lost.
So……my dear Kelly…………..you are not JUST a forgotten kiss to me. You are now a friend, rockstar, inspiration and just a damn awesome human being that I will never ever forget.
Love
Chad
That’s sweet. I’ve reconnected with a lot of people from elementary, middle and high school – but not really gone beyond adding them on FB. Most stayed in Detroit, and really have no interest in heading back there.