So, here’s the thing folks, sometimes those fond memories of the past should remain just that, memories, and in the past. Back when, long ago, in the ancient days of Jr. High and High school, I created a lot of fond memories. I wasn’t ‘Joe Stud’ by a long shot, but I did work my way through a bevy of young ladies, all reasonably attractive, and of moderate intelligence. They were kid flings mostly, you know what I’m talking about, 12-16 years old, in the 70’s… we were not remotely like the kids of this century. Dating was different, long term was not in our vocabulary, at least not the guys… some of the girls had the starry eyed daydreams of marriage and family life, but mostly we were all just there for the fun… learning the ropes, and playing at being grown-up.
I still recall those first few girlfriends, and the first few fumbling attempts at sex at a precocious 12 and 13 years old. I recall even more fondly the improved attempts my freshman year.. and life got better with age…
What I also recall fondly is those lovely young ladies, most of whom I continued to be friends with through High School and beyond.. but the tail end of High School is now almost 30 years gone, we’re all in our middle to late 40’s now and outside of a few class reunions I have not seen most of these women in well over 20 years. So, with that big 30 year reunion looming up next year, I got wistful, wondering what happened to them all… I’m not looking for rekindled romances, just curious what became of the people I spent my formative years with. So, I started searching for them. Some were in my class, some a year or two ahead, some a year or two behind. The ones from my graduating class I could find easily enough, through the reunion website. Others I could find on Classmates.com and that dreadful horror they call Facebook. I’m so glad I deleted my Facebook account…
So, off to the reason I started this post… I did manage to reach out to some of these old flames, and to quite a few of the guys I knew back then too. Some are doing well, but some have shattered those memories… in some cases, quite scarily.
A woman I haven’t seen in almost 20 years, who I haven’t dated in over 30, and only recently ran into, via this accursed internet, is now sending me text messages, with pictures of herself, rather revealing ones… and what they reveal is not anything I want to see. I’d burn my eyes out if I thought it would help… and of course her comment that came with the pictures? “Not bad for 47, huh?”
I lied of course, I don’t want to hurt her feelings, but the only way the statement might have been true was if she had said 57 instead, and that still may have been stretching it…
Some people just don’t take care of themselves.. and sometimes you’re better off with those old memories than finding out the truth.