.....a good long while since I felt like writing. My health seemed to be going south really fast and along with the health issues came a deep, deep depression. I felt justified with the depression though because doggone it, I couldn't do anything I loved to do like mowing, raking leaves, cleaning out the gutters....you know, the stuff we all love to whittle away our hours doing. I couldn't even walk in my neighborhood. I tried, I really did but I couldn't make it happen. My old pal Charley, from around the corner, tried to help me go for walks but I kept falling down and it got to where he couldn't help me up anymore. On my last attempt, we were less than a half block from the house when I lost my balance and fell. The dizziness was so bad I couldn't help Charley as he tried to help me up. Finally we were both worn out. It was a sad sight seeing two old men sitting on the curb wondering what we could do. A teenage boy on a bike road by eventually and asked if we needed help. He got us both upright and standing and we slowly made our way home. Charley hasn't offered to walk with me since even though on my own now I can get all the way around the block. I'm so proud of myself.
I put both my walkers up in the attic this past week. That's something else I'm proud of....putting those things away, out of sight, AND climbing the attic stairs to put them there! I think the doc has finally gotten the adjustment right on my shunt and so far no more hematomas have occurred. I'm beginning to feel like my old, lovable self again. I plan on taking on the yard work again this spring even though Debbie and the boys think differently. I am not too old to take care of my own yard! Period!
My memory is slowly returning and it's causing me to have some sleepless nights. I keep having recurring thoughts of the past which I think, "I should write that down!" Usually by the time I get up and find pad and pencil the memory has left me but some are staying around. I hope to share them with you if you're still interested in reading them. The following happened right here in good old downtown Hurst, Texas, when I was about thirteen. I had no use for girls but my mind was beginning to think they weren't as disgusting as I had earlier imagined. It was a difficult time and I wouldn't want to relive it, but back then it was all new and exciting. Those girls out there scared me half to death but I couldn't stop thinking about them.
Our junior high youth group from church had a Christmas party and I was talked into going by my friend, Harry. Harry had a way of getting us both into trouble so I went to the party with him warily. Before the party broke up one of the grownups commented that none of us guys were getting anywhere near the mistletoe. We all nodded, shook our shoulders, uttered "Uh" or "No way". We were pretty cool. Finally someone gave me a shove and there I was right under the mistletoe with everyone laughing and giving me a hard time. Before I could get out from under it a beautiful little lady named Peggy grabbed me and planted a big kiss right on my lips. It was my very first kiss. I was stunned. I got so flustered. I could feel my face turn bright red and the heat went all the way to my toenails. All the noise around me became a garbled echo in my head. Harry had to lead me over to the couch and set me down. That's all I remember about the party until it was time to go home. Harry's parents came to pick us up and we wandered out to the car along with others who were leaving. Peggy walked up to the car and asked Harry's parents if they would mind taking her home since it was on the way. Before we loaded up she grabbed me and kissed me again! I was in love!!! That ride home could have lasted forever.
Peggy and I both went to Hurst Jr. High so aside from seeing her at church I saw her throughout the day at school. I followed her around like a little puppy dog without having a clue how I was supposed to act. She was so cotton picking cute and she knew how to flirt. She strung me along at school and flirted with me at church. She even winked at me when I tried to help with communion one Sunday. I nearly dropped my trays. I was one wasted youth all during this time because I had never had anyone show me any interest, much less a good looking girl like Peggy. I sure hope everyone gets to experience what I did back in the early sixties with a beautiful girl picking me out from the herd of clueless guys to charm for a few weeks.
Our courtship was short-lived of course. I had no idea how to act around a girl so I stumbled through the relationship on a daily basis. Eventually she got tired of me. I had no money, no imagination, and no way to get around aside from my bike or Harry's parents. Our love life consisted of two kisses, hand holding, day dreaming, and one date courtesy of again, Harry's parents. They were good people! I don't know how they wound up with Harry. That one date was to an old Mexican food place close by. I had never been to a Mexican food place before and had no idea what to order, what to do, or how to impress my date. It turned out I didn't have enough money to pay the bill so both Peggy and Harry's parents helped me out. It was a disaster. She lost interest in me shortly after that and I can't blame her at all. I still had a lot of growing up to do. Thanks for the memories Peggy. Wherever you are I hope your life has been wonderful!
