Crushes are such strange creatures. Or things. Feelings? Anyhoo, they’re WEIRD. While you’re going through them, the word is a perfect description because the object of your affection has the absolute ability to crush you. They hold your heart, your happiness, and at the moment it feels like your very soul, in the palm of your hand.
With such intense emotions swirling around, the opportunity for comical fodder is VERY HIGH INDEED. And when that moment of wide-eyed Oh, Please God, rewind time shock happens, it feels like the end of the world.
Years later, it’s just pure gold 😉
I’m having so much fun with my Flirt Squad this week, talking about first crushes. Jason, the hero in TASTE THE HEAT, was Colby’s first crush, so we’ve been remembering our own. I’ve shared a few here with my diary entry and my first real crush. And today? I thought I’d go for my own version of pure comic gold….my first date.
Trust me, you want to read this story.
But, before I dive into that embarrassment, be sure to head over for today’s stops on the Taste the Heat tour! Tangled Up in Books has a Giddy-Inducing 5 star review, and later today, there will be a stop at Ticket to Anywhere.
Now, for that Comic Gold…
My first date really tops the charts of embarrassment. I was 13 years old and while I had gone to the movies in groups and went to parties, this was going to be my first actual alone, guy pays for everything type of date. And he was older than me — 17. Great, right?
Well, the first sign that the night might not go off as planned was that I woke up feeling sick. Not a cold, but like nauseated, stomach not feeling right, type of sick. But I was nothing if not determined. I would go on that date. I talked to the guy on the phone and he was sweet and concerned, but I told him the same thing–nothing was going to keep me from going to the movies with him.The next bad sign came when we went to pick him up. One of the reasons my parents allowed me to date someone so much older, besides the fact that he was in our church group, was that he didn’t drive yet. So my mom and I picked him up in our mini-van and he came to sit with me in the back. He then proceeded to inform us that he had forgotten to put on his cologne, and pulled out his bottle of Polo. Now, up until this point, I had always thought this particular cologne smelled yummy. And I think in small doses, it still does, but small doses was not what I was given.Cute boy proceeded to uncap the bottle and DOUSE himself in said cologne. Let me quickly say here how sweet this guy was… and still is…but, well, this may not have been his brightest moment. My mom discreetly opened the vents in the back, as the smell wafted towards the front. My stomach turned for the first time.We made it back to my house and hung out for a bit, sitting close together on my sofa. Breathing in very very VERY strong cologne on an already weak stomach. I have a picture from that moment on the sofa, and my face is ghostly pale, even for me. Which is really saying something since I’m Casper the friendly ghost already.Not long after, we got up to walk to the movie. We were going to the dollar show which was right around the corner, and one of my favorite things to do was to walk there…I had a lot more energy when I was younger. Anyhoo, I digress. SO, we’re walking. I think I only stopped once, but it may have been twice, as my stomach continued to turn. He asked in concern if I was sure I still wanted to go, but again, I was determined for this to go well.This was going to be my first date after all!!Have you figured out yet what happens???When we got to the theater, we sat in the back. We were watching Look Who’s Talking, Too. Yes, I am that old — or that young, depending on your point of view. And as we sat in the enclosed space of the theater, breathing in the cologne, my stomach got worse.I tried leaning away, but the sweetheart thought I was playing some type of cat and mouse, hard to get move, so he leaned in.I leaned further away, he leaned closer in.In my memory, I feel as though I was practically falling into the other seat, but I’m sure it wasn’t that obvious. But then…. it happened.I couldn’t take it anymore. I got up and told him in a frantic voice that I would be right back. I scurried as fast as my weak legs would carry me, and made it all the way out to the trash can just outside the movie door when I lost it.Threw up, complete with dry heaving for a few moments….But guess what? THAT isn’t even the best part!!!The theater next to ours let out RIGHT AT THAT MOMENT! Yep, pure gold I tell you. I’ll never forget hearing the little kid’s voice asking, “Mommy, is that girl okay??”Oh, the mortification!My date followed shortly, and again let me say how wonderful he was. Total sweetheart and understanding, didn’t react like any guy would ever react, or even how I would in that situation. He patted my back, helped me clean up, and even wanted to go out again!!Yes, I have had countless wonderful dates, but they will never be able to wipe away the fond memories of the first.
