Stories from the Stringam Family Ranches of Southern Alberta

From the 50s and 60s to today . . .



Friday, June 15, 2012

First Love


What's not to love, right?

I was in grade four.
Nine years old.
At the dawn of a new age.
I had discovered boys.
Or more specifically, boy.
KS was smart.
Cute.
Sweet.
Taller than me.
And my neighbor.
He had everything important going for him.
At first, I didn’t know what to do with my newfound crush.
I really didn’t know what it was.
I had had plenty of boy friends in the past.
Boys that I competed against at every opportunity.
Sports.
Schoolwork.
But none that I just wanted to . . . be near.
Puzzled, I did all the normal things.
Followed him around at a discrete distance.
Hid behind cars and buildings if he looked in my direction.
Stared across the room at him in class.
Avoided him at recess.
What was this weird attraction?
I had suddenly developed mental ‘global positioning’.
I could tell you the precise location of KS at any time of the day.
Without ever seeming to look at him.
I’m sure I was pretty obvious in my interest.
But when you’re nine - and you wish it - you’re invisible.
Our class had a Box Social.
Okay, I know that dates me, but the fact remains.
All of the boys brought a box lunch for two and then shared it with his assigned ‘girl’ partner.
We lined up and the teacher numbered us off.
I tired to position myself so that I would match KS.
But my counting was off.
I ended up with a boy who brought peanut butter and banana sandwiches.
Peanut butter and banana?
Revolting!
I had never heard of such a thing.
Nor had my stomach.
I looked longingly across the playground at KS and his partner.
Happily munching on whatever KS had brought.
Sigh.
Later that day, tired of listening to my bleating, my friends cornered KS and his friends and wrung a confession out of him.
He liked me!
It was the happiest day of my life!
So what did we do then?
Nothing.
We were nine.
Oh, occasionally, we would . . . you know . . . talk.
And once, I sat next to him in Sunday School class.
Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
But that’s about it.
My family moved.
And soon another crush filled my life.
Moving ahead.
I hadn’t seen or thought about KS for nearly fifty years.
Then, one day, there he was.
In my church congregation.
Now, until that moment, I couldn’t remember what the nine-year-old boy had looked like.
But I knew him as soon as I saw him.
Strangely, he hadn’t changed much at all.
Taller.
And definitely older.
But still that boy.
My first crush.
It made me smile.

17 comments:

  1. My second and fifth crush are both gone now; both succumbed to cancer. I've still got my first crush that I've had since '67 and I'm trying to restore that. You see, my first crush was something mechanical but the others were of the human kind. Both kinds (for me anyway) have their own way to pull on your heart strings. I do say that the human kind offers more stimulating conversation.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There's something to be said for the first crush being un-susceptible to the diseases of the flesh! And you're definitely right, the human kind does offer more in the way of conversation. At times . . .

      Delete
  2. Cute story! Did KS remember you after 50 years? :) Box Social? I've never heard of that and I'm surprised our schools don't have these now since our public schools allow so many other ways for our boys/girls to "get to know one another" as in making out on school grounds with no consequences/correction. Box Socials sound like the "dating game" school style :) Your story brought back memories of my crushes in elementary school :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He did remember me. I was totally shocked. But he was a nice as ever. :) Box socials were tons of fun. If your partner didn't bring *shudder* peanut butter and banana sandwiches. Weren't grade school crushes fun?!

      Delete
  3. Replies
    1. Couldn't have said it better myself . . . oh . . . wait . . .

      Delete
  4. Funny how those first crushes are burned within our minds forever. So COOL that you got to meet up with yours years later. I always wonder what would happen if I ran into mine.

    Box Socials?? { Combined with dances.} Those were the BEST fun ever in the good ole' days. Sure wish they would bring those back.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was a fun experience. And I was totally blown away by the fact that he remembered me. I've never thought of myself as memorable . . .
      I love box socials. A couple of my kids got to participate in YM/YW. Super fun!

      Delete
  5. How nice. Made me think of my grade school friends who moved away, who I've never seen again. I guess I have to say it again. How nice.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Don't you always end up wondering what happened to them???!

      Delete
  6. I love this. I still remember my first crush too. His name was Andy and we were in 4th grade. Except he was the one that moved, not me. He did marry a girl from here though. Thanks for the memory trigger. :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love this story, it is soo cute... those memories are so great. My first crush lived in Toronto.. I don't even remember his last name but it was a cute memory :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think of how we all must have looked. Thinking we were so grown up and mature. At nine. So cute!

      Delete
  8. Diane, there is nothing like first love. Nothing! I still remember my first love and my first kiss. How I wish we had a time machine to relive those feelings, innocent and lovely as they were! I cannot believe that it took 50 years for you to see your first crush! Although what am I saying, I've yet to see mine! hee hee! I loved this post! Almost as much as I loved those vintage glasses of yours! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's me - vintage all the way! It is so much fun to remember. Sigh.

      Delete
    2. lucky me. my first crush just happens to be my husbands little brother.

      Delete

Thank you for visiting! Drop by again!

Real Estates: All Murders Included in the Price!

Real Estates: All Murders Included in the Price!
My FIRST murder mystery!

Blessed by a Curse

Blessed by a Curse
My very first Medieval Romance!

God's Tree

God's Tree
For the Children

Third in the series

Third in the series
Deborah. Fugitive of Faith

The Long-Awaited Sequel to Daughter of Ishmael

The Long-Awaited Sequel to Daughter of Ishmael
A House Divided is now available at all fine bookstores and on Amazon.com and .ca!

Daughter of Ishmael

Daughter of Ishmael
Now available at Amazon.com and .ca and Chapters.ca and other fine bookstores.

Romance still wins!

Romance still wins!
First romance in a decade!

Hosts: Your Room's Ready

Hosts: Your Room's Ready
A fun romp through the world's most haunted hotel!

Hugs, Delivered.

Compass Book Ratings

Compass Book Ratings

Ghost of the Overlook

Ghost of the Overlook
Need a fright?

My Granddaughter is Carrying on the Legacy!

My Granddaughter is Carrying on the Legacy!
New Tween Novel!

Gnome for Christmas

Gnome for Christmas
The newest in my Christmas Series

SnowMan

SnowMan
A heart warming story of love and sacrifice.

Translate

My novel, Carving Angels

My novel, Carving Angels
Read it! You know you want to!

My Second Novel: Kris Kringle's Magic

My Second Novel: Kris Kringle's Magic
What could be better than a second Christmas story?!

Join me on Maven

Connect with me on Maven

Essence

Essence
A scientist and his son struggle to keep their earth-shattering discovery out of the wrong hands.

Essence: A Second Dose

Essence: A Second Dose
Captured and imprisoned, a scientist and his son use their amazing discovery to foil evil plans.

Looking for a Great Read?

E-Books by Diane Stringam Tolley
Available from Smashwords.com

The Babysitter

The Babysitter
A baby-kidnapping ring has its eye on J'Aime and her tiny niece.

Melissa

Melissa
Haunted by her past, Melissa must carve a future. Without Cain.

Devon

Devon
Following tragedy, Devon retreats to the solitude of the prairie. Until a girl is dropped in his lap.

Pearl, Why You Little...

Pearl, Why You Little...
Everyone should spend a little time with Pearl!

The Marketing Mentress

The Marketing Mentress
Building solid relationships with podcast and LinkedIn marketing

Coffee Row

Coffee Row
My Big Brother's Stories

Better Blogger Network

Semper Fidelis

Semper Fidelis
I've been given an award!!!

The Liebster Award

The Liebster Award
My good friend and Amazing Blogger, Marcia of Menopausal Mother awarded me . . .

Irresistibly Sweet Award

Irresistibly Sweet Award
Delores, my good friend from The Feathered Nest, has nominated me!

Sunshine Award!!!

Sunshine Award!!!
My good friend Red from Oz has nominated me!!!

My very own Humorous Blogger Award From Delores at The Feathered Nest!

Be Courageous!


Grab and Add!

Search This Blog

Ghost of the Overlook

Ghost of the Overlook
Need a fright?