My memory is spotty at best, and the further back I try to remember, the worse it gets. But just for shits and giggles, I will remember some firsts of my life. My one rule is that I have to remember whatever it is myself, and not rely on a story I heard- such as my first word was "dada" or some such shit. So that requires me to jump ahead to when I was about 5 years old.
Let's see, what happened when I was 5?
The first day of kindergarten: I remember crying and crying and not wanting my mom to leave me there.
My first ballet lessons: I cried and cried and did not want my mom to leave me there.
(See a pattern? I had separation anxiety long past the typical age kids have it, which is 2.)
After age 5, I have trouble remembering specific ages and dates, but I can roughly outline some more firsts.
First friend: My cousin Jaime. She is 10 months younger than me, and our parents used to be very close. Jaime and I were basically friends from the moment she was born because our parents ensured that we did a lot of stuff together. Plus, she's family and I love her.
First friend outside family: I remember a girl named Stephanie Randall from first grade.
First best friend: Probably in 3rd or 4th grade I made my first best friend, named Shelly. I had a couple of other close friends, but Shelly was the one I talked to most on the phone, hung out with most outside of school, and wrote the most notes to.
First surgery that I remember (but NOT my first surgery): My cousin Jaime broke my nose by throwing a pool ring at me. I was supposed to catch it, but DAMN- it hit me square in the nose at full force. I think I was around age 7 or so. My parents waited a week or two because back then standard procedure for a broken nose was to just let it heal on its own, but my parents ultimately decided to have it surgically corrected. It's still crooked and I can't smell, which I blame my cousin for to this day- more for the crookedness than the not smelling. I've forgiven her, but not forgotten.
First crush: I think it was around first grade- his name was Adam Hate.
First B grade in school: I think it was in Science in 5th or 6th grade. I typically made straight A's.
First school dance: it was in junior high and I recall doing the "Macarena." Yup, that dates me. I don't believe I went to another dance until high school prom.
First instrument I played: the recorder in grade school, and then the piano outside of school. I went on to play the clarinet, bass clarinet, and tenor sax in the junior high/high school school band.
First C grade in school: 10th grade honors American history. Mr Nelson with the one leg who liked the Doors gave me my first C. That was the last time I took an honors history class.
First kiss: It was during Spin the Bottle in 8th grade. I will not mention his name here.
First car: 1993 Ford Escort station wagon. Green. I was 16 with a new license and my first job. I totaled it the first time I drove in snow, which was about 8 months later.
First job: Dairy Queen- I was 16, and I cashiered, worked the drive-thru, made ice cream cakes, and made other soft-serve items. I had to work to pay for gas for my car, and then to save up for my second car.
First date: I was in 11th grade, age 17 (almost 18), and it was with a guy named Josh. We went to see The Emperor's New Groove. He took me to 2 proms that year, but we ended up only dating for 5 months.
First college: Rose State College, because I had a full scholarship for the first year.
First time I moved out of my parent's house: I was 20, and I moved to Tulsa for 2 years. I never moved back to my parent's house (for longer than a month), but I did move back to my hometown.
First movie that made me cry: Pollyanna, when she breaks her leg. I was a kid when I saw it. I also cried for Old Yeller. Many movies have followed since.
First movie I remember seeing in the theater: Bambi, I think- it was definitely a Disney movie and I was with all my cousins.
First band I really loved: The Beach Boys. I was always into oldies music-classic rock.
First concert: The Monkees, when I was around 12 or so. I went with my mom and her friend, who was a huge Monkees fan. I love the Monkees to this day.
First over 1,000-page book I read: Gone With the Wind- and I read it in grade school. I also read the entire Bible just to say I did it.
First pet of my own: a green parakeet that ended up getting eaten by the cat. I was 10.
First family vacation that I remember (outside of camping trips): Disneyworld in Florida. I was 10, and I remember having a lot of fun riding the rides. I also remember that I ran out of books to read on the long drive back home to OK, so my mom let me read hers. Again, I was 10 and my mom let me read her books. I believe they were murder mysteries.
Perhaps more to come as I continue remembering . . .
