Sunday, October 3, 2010

7th Grade

Do you remember 7th grade?

I do. 

I remember my greasy bangs, prank calls and notes to my two best friends signed in code, folded into triangles, and passed secretly in the locker-lined hallways of my small town Ohio jr. high. Seventh grade was also when I had my first crush -- on the boy who sat in front of me in English class. He had blue eyes, wavy sandy-brown hair, and such a mischievously melting smile that I didn't even mind that he repeatedly rummaged through my little khaki purse with the turtle ribbon trim. We never "went together" but we did swap pictures. (I slept with his under my pillow for probably a year, maybe longer.)

I'm remembering 7th grade right now because Abe is celebrating his 12th birthday today and my living room is completely overtaken by 11 and 12 year old boys sporting sillybandz and skate shoes. They spent the afternoon playing mini-golf and laser tag and then returned here for dinner and what is turning into a rousing game of dart tag in the middle of our small house.  The furniture has been shoved to the corners of the room and they are smiling, yelling, pushing, laughing, chasing, joking, diving.

I can't help but wonder if the girls have noticed them yet. 

Probably, right?

And that makes me feel so darn old.

5 comments:

  1. Ahhh, the pangs of seventh grade...I was the most awkward little thing at that age!

    Happy Birthday to Abe! May the girls stay at bay for a few more days! ;)

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  2. I so totally remember seventh grade as being one of the most miserable times in my life -- painfully skinny, hair curled with a curling iron, big rose-tinted glasses and puka bead necklace. Or was that eighth? I AM getting old.

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  3. Yikes! I don't think I want to remember 7th grade...congratulations on 12 years of mama-hood!

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  4. Happy Birthday, Abe! Yes, 7th grade was "memorable" for several reasons. The beginning of jr. high, for one...I wish him a wonderful year, as I wish/hope for all of your family.

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  5. Yes! The girls have definitely noticed them! However, they may not be too interested. My 7th grade Girl Scouts were complaining that there were "no cute boys in 7th grade". The only cute boys to be found at their middle schools are 8th graders, apparently. Ahh, the lure of older men. Camille has a dance today at school. Talk about painful......

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