This is Me - Secret Admirer
This is a post included in the This is Me series where I answer 1001 questions about myself as writing practice. Each post consists of me answering 5 questions about myself. Wanna share what you would answer to any or all of the questions? Do it in the comments section!
WHAT WAS MIDDLE SCHOOL LIKE FOR YOU?
I'm pretty certain my 6th grade teachers name was Mrs. Gatewood. I have zero memories from 7th grade for some reason.
8th grade was tough with a capital T. That was the year we started changing classes every period. That was the year I started my period (I think?) That was the year I had an unrequited crush on Doug while he was enamored with one of my good friends. #brutal
That was also the year that two of the girls in my friend group played a secret admirer trick on me and had me convinced that Walt had a crush on me and was leaving me secret admirer notes. When it found out that it was them, I felt a level of betrayal that I didn’t know was possible.
It still hurts when I think about it.
That friends that you thought wanted the best for you wanted to do something to embarrass you like that….Let's just say that I was glad when middle school was over.
WHAT WAS HIGH SCHOOL LIKE FOR YOU?
The four years I spent in high school have to be the years where I really grew up and experienced many of the foundational things which have contributed to who I am as a person today.
I began to drive, I had my first serious boyfriend, I experienced an extremely traumatizing event for my age, I began to figure out what sorts of things I valued, and I started forming my own opinions. And even though I attended a very small Christian school and graduated with a class of 27, the depths of the things I experienced during those four years have shaped my priorities, my thought processes and my overall outlook on the world.
If I had to do it all over knowing then what I know now, I would have done things a lot differently. But I also have to think...would I know what I know now had things gone differently then? I'm not a person who has regrets, I learn. And my high school years taught me a lot.
WHAT IS ONE THING YOU NEED TO DO EVERY DAY?
The word "need" is not sitting well with me because there are lots of things I need to do everyday like sleep, go to the bathroom, drink water etc...But I think the gist of the question is more along the lines of - what is something that you neurotically do every single day even though it's not totally necessary for survival?
The good Christian answer would be read my Bible and pray. I don't really know that there are any "good Christians" though because we are all still human and fall short daily. The thing that I think Paul or other people who know me well would say is put on lippy. All day. Every day. #seriously I don't think I have gone a day since 2007 without doing that so that's what we will go with.
DO YOU LIKE BEING IN ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS?
I mean, do people NOT like being in romantic relationships? I guess if there is some prior trauma or trust issues, maybe, but of course I like being in a romantic relationship....my marriage being a prime example. There is nothing that has made me happier and more joyful in my life than my friendship and relationship with Paul. Has it been hard at times? Absofreakingloutley, but difficult things have a way of providing us the most joy and the most satisfaction.
WHAT DO YOU VALUE MOST IN A FRIENDSHIP?
Thoughtfulness.
I have a lot of pseudo friends and I call them that because even though they seem like friends, they are more of a close acquaintance. My really close friends are those who are thoughtful. This is a characteristic that I value the most in general and sadly, is also a characteristic that is not prevalent in our society any longer. Friendship to me is absolutely a two way street and both parties need to contribute. That takes a level of thoughtfulness that most people don't exhibit any longer. My best friends throughout my life have always been kind, funny and thoughtful.
