Thursday, September 18, 2008

first kiss

Recently some friends and I have been reminiscing about the good ol' days. We saw a wedding announcement in the paper of a guy we all liked. He was a year older than us (which makes you that much cooler) and eyes bluer than the Caribbean. I mean, we are talking middle school days. There was always a crush or a cute guy to talk about in middle school. Always. But seeing his announcement in the paper got us talking about who had kissed who and our 'first' kisses.

Now, a couple of my friends had already had their first kisses by the sixth grade. And, of course, as an adolescent, I was feeling left out. I had yet to be kissed. For some reason I felt I needed some sort of vindication (like a kiss) to say I was being noticed for the awesome, funny, bubbly person that I was. I doubt any boys even noticed I was part of the opposite sex. I mean, check this out:

Definitely only a face a mother could love but exuding potential. ;) (This was one of my favorite shirts, BTW). This is all pre-braces, pre-contacts, pre-makeup, pre-swan stage (i.e. Ugly Duckling).

My first kiss didn't come until I was a freshman in high school. Thinking back on it now, when it finally did happen, I felt pretty, confident and happy; like I finally had been elected into that next stage of life; that I was good enough. It is just too bad (and scary) that I based my confidence on a kiss. It makes me nervous for how my kids are going to be!! Will they be the same? Will they have the same type of issues that I did as a kid? Will it be worse?

For right now, I will enjoy their innocence and their age. I'm thinking a 3 year old is much easier to deal with than an adolescent (tantrums included).

Who else remembers vividly their first kiss?

9 comments:

Erik A. said...

Great picture Janelle. Aren't you glad that shirts like the one you have on in the picture are out of style!

Natalie said...

Eww. I do. Not all that pleasant actually. It was quick, unexpected, and I felt like my mouth had been violated. The second was better...but much better didn't come for many, many years. Last year, to be exact :-)

The Homely Animal said...

I remember my first kiss and oddly enough I also remember that shirt. I think this was the year I met you since this is kind of how I remembered you until I saw this blog. So....who WAS your first kiss? I noticed that one little tidbit was left out ;)
-Banna
p.s. I entered you for the hat but you didn't win :o( sorry

Nells-Bells said...

Banna,
How funny that this is how you remember me! ACK! I really don't kiss and tell BUT I will tell you he was a senior and I was a freshman. ;) No worries about the hat! Maybe next time. :) It is just so darn cute!!

dayna said...

well if we want to compare yearbook photos from the same year, i think i may take the cake for ugly duckling...and the year after that, and the year after that...it was a hard award to earn! and yes, i remember my first kiss...it was unwanted and gross. in DC. guy from mississippi. (included details just to protect the innocent!)

Natalie said...

LOVE this picture! I also remember my first kiss! 5th grade, ahh the good 'ol days.

Trent Megan and Kids said...

I feel your pain Janelle. I didn't have my first kiss until freshman year of COLLEGE. And I have only kissed two boys (one being my hubby). I had the glasses and the braces etc. Oh one other thing I was boy CRAZY!! Maybe that hurt my chances a little. Happy with my honeys kisses and our three kids though!!

D.I.M. Incorporated said...

I would have killed for that shirt! lol And I swear I had those same glasses! One year I even wore a big hat with a flower on it! Check your year book. It was scary! I had my first kiss in 5th grade! heh heh Behind the dumpster. Just ask Jackie! lol

D.I.M. Incorporated said...

This goes to show who the hussie in my marriage is. Britt had her first kiss in fifth, mine wasn't until I was a sophomore.
Aw the memories come flooding back of a big chested girl from Mountain Crest that probably drove a tractor to school.
And that is an awesome shirt.