Ten memories that make you happy.
In an effort to not be such a sad sack...
1. We were in kindergarten and discussing friendship. I remember the teacher going around the classroom; she had us all on the floor sitting in a circle, asking everyone whom his or her best friend was. Jimmy happened to get asked the question first and he stood up, pointed at me and grinned. “I’m my own best friend, see?”
2. Grace coming home from the hospital. There was only one of her so Jimmy and I had to share, take turns getting to hold her-our little sister. She was tiny, bald and slept all the time. Even when she wasn’t sleeping, she was quiet. Jimmy thought she was boring. I just thought she was neat. Besides, the first time The Grandmother held her, Grace puked like you wouldn’t believe. I’ll never forget the old bat trying to look dignified with white baby-barf soaking through her Hermes scarf.
3. Adam. He was almost three when he came to live with us. He was actually quiet and shy back then, just stood around, hiding behind furniture and staring at everyone. Jimmy and I used to take the little rubber bands from our braces and use them to shoot him just so he’d make some sort of noise.
4. Serving as an alter boy for the first time. I remember being so nervous I’d screw up, trip over my robes and fall on my face in front of the whole congregation. Grandpa Bert told me he felt the same way every time he got up to the pulpit to give a sermon. If the bishop got butterflies in his tummy on Sundays and still managed to do things without faltering, I figured I could to…
5. Getting the lead in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. I was only a sophomore and beat out a couple of seniors for the part. I was totally hated by the rest of the drama department until opening night when we kicked some serious butt.
6. The tree house. Man, Jimmy and I used to spend so much time up there goofing around. We used to pull up the ladder so Adam couldn’t follow up and he’d stand on the ground under the tree and just sob like a girl. We’d turn our portable radio up so we couldn’t hear him. The best though, were the nights when the weather was nice and Mom would let us sleep out there. Rainy would pack a basket full of sandwiches and cookies and sodas for us and we’d take Dad’s huge Mag-lite up along with sleeping bags. No one bothered us. We were in our own little world and it was great. I think we were sixteen the last time we did that.
7. Grace and I singing a duet together in choir. It’s always fun to get to rehearse with her. We don’t keep it to the church, we’ve been known to torment people sitting in McDonald’s or Hickie’s with our vocal skills. Oh, and the acoustics in Two Scoops? Amazing.
8. The time Jimmy and I pulled the ol’ which one am I routine on some girl who supposedly had this huge crush on Jimmy. So huge that she ended up making out with me under the bleachers in the football stadium. Jimmy was so mad; he actually didn’t talk to me for half the weekend. He forgave me when he realized I never told her I wasn’t him. He dated her for a good six months. We never did tell her the truth.
9. First time Josh kissed me. We had been arguing with each other all semester in an Ethics seminar and then really arguing with each other during a study session at someone’s house. I got up to get a drink from the kitchen and he followed me. I figured e was going to yell at me some more and was ready to tell him to shut up. Josh actually pushed me up against the fridge and cupped my face with both of his hands, telling me “Webster, you are the most obnoxious, spoiled, privileged, uptight, conservative asshole I have ever met.” And well, then he kissed me. And kept kissing me until someone suggested we get a room.
10. Visiting Emma in L.A. I don’t think we stopped laughing the entire time I was out there. I miss my Speed Bunny.
1. We were in kindergarten and discussing friendship. I remember the teacher going around the classroom; she had us all on the floor sitting in a circle, asking everyone whom his or her best friend was. Jimmy happened to get asked the question first and he stood up, pointed at me and grinned. “I’m my own best friend, see?”
2. Grace coming home from the hospital. There was only one of her so Jimmy and I had to share, take turns getting to hold her-our little sister. She was tiny, bald and slept all the time. Even when she wasn’t sleeping, she was quiet. Jimmy thought she was boring. I just thought she was neat. Besides, the first time The Grandmother held her, Grace puked like you wouldn’t believe. I’ll never forget the old bat trying to look dignified with white baby-barf soaking through her Hermes scarf.
3. Adam. He was almost three when he came to live with us. He was actually quiet and shy back then, just stood around, hiding behind furniture and staring at everyone. Jimmy and I used to take the little rubber bands from our braces and use them to shoot him just so he’d make some sort of noise.
4. Serving as an alter boy for the first time. I remember being so nervous I’d screw up, trip over my robes and fall on my face in front of the whole congregation. Grandpa Bert told me he felt the same way every time he got up to the pulpit to give a sermon. If the bishop got butterflies in his tummy on Sundays and still managed to do things without faltering, I figured I could to…
5. Getting the lead in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. I was only a sophomore and beat out a couple of seniors for the part. I was totally hated by the rest of the drama department until opening night when we kicked some serious butt.
6. The tree house. Man, Jimmy and I used to spend so much time up there goofing around. We used to pull up the ladder so Adam couldn’t follow up and he’d stand on the ground under the tree and just sob like a girl. We’d turn our portable radio up so we couldn’t hear him. The best though, were the nights when the weather was nice and Mom would let us sleep out there. Rainy would pack a basket full of sandwiches and cookies and sodas for us and we’d take Dad’s huge Mag-lite up along with sleeping bags. No one bothered us. We were in our own little world and it was great. I think we were sixteen the last time we did that.
7. Grace and I singing a duet together in choir. It’s always fun to get to rehearse with her. We don’t keep it to the church, we’ve been known to torment people sitting in McDonald’s or Hickie’s with our vocal skills. Oh, and the acoustics in Two Scoops? Amazing.
8. The time Jimmy and I pulled the ol’ which one am I routine on some girl who supposedly had this huge crush on Jimmy. So huge that she ended up making out with me under the bleachers in the football stadium. Jimmy was so mad; he actually didn’t talk to me for half the weekend. He forgave me when he realized I never told her I wasn’t him. He dated her for a good six months. We never did tell her the truth.
9. First time Josh kissed me. We had been arguing with each other all semester in an Ethics seminar and then really arguing with each other during a study session at someone’s house. I got up to get a drink from the kitchen and he followed me. I figured e was going to yell at me some more and was ready to tell him to shut up. Josh actually pushed me up against the fridge and cupped my face with both of his hands, telling me “Webster, you are the most obnoxious, spoiled, privileged, uptight, conservative asshole I have ever met.” And well, then he kissed me. And kept kissing me until someone suggested we get a room.
10. Visiting Emma in L.A. I don’t think we stopped laughing the entire time I was out there. I miss my Speed Bunny.