First Kiss

by Monica on February 14, 2009

kissAs a little girl, I was very free with my kisses. In one of my mom’s albums there’s a fading photo of me sitting on a homemade swing beneath a large oak tree with a tall boy standing behind me. When I recall that scene I recollect kissing him for taking the time to push me. I was two, maybe three.

Later at the ripe age of four I chased after ring-bearers to place wet kisses on their faces. And later I would drag these shy boys out onto the dance floor to boogie with me. I was a very popular flower girl.

Then something changed. I stopped kissing boys.

In fact, my thirteenth birthday was marked with deep despair. I was certain I was the only freshman girl alive to never have been kissed. Really kissed. A passionate, romantic kiss that makes your stomach drop and your heart pound and palms sweat.

Most of my freshman year was spent obsessing over this first kiss. And who would I kiss? Who would want to kiss me?

I had so many crushes, but couldn’t *really* imagine a situation where one of them would be “My First Kiss”. And then there was the one guy I absolutely adored. A senior.

I met him after school when I joined the drama club. He stood on stage with the other seniors, laying down the law for the newcomers. I was enthralled. And somehow we became friends.

I was always very aware that he was older, and more experienced. And while we’d flirt, nothing ever came of it. Of course, I spent all my time fantasizing about what it would be like to kiss him.

Until the last week of school.

One afternoon, after I thought he’d long gone for the day, he found me in one of the hallways,  took my hand and led me to a stairwell. And that’s where it happened. My first *real* kiss.

And while it was nothing like what I’d imagined (no fireworks, no stomach dropping, no lightheadedness), in a way it was even better. With that one kiss, in that musty stairwell, he made me feel like I was the most special girl on the planet.

And for a little while I relaxed because I’d met a milestone. I was no longer the only girl in school who’d never been kissed.

  • Share/Save/Bookmark

{ 0 comments }

  • Share/Save/Bookmark

{ 0 comments }

I’m a firm advocate of the first amendment. It’s one of the greatest things about being an American. If you believe in something, you can shout it from the mountaintops. If you disagree with someone’s opinion, you can shout your views just as loud.

That is – until the last eight years. All of a sudden, if your view wasn’t in line with U.S. government policy, internal censorship was likely to occur. Government officials, the media, and regular people thought twice about making any critical remarks.

And now, the Congresswoman from Minnesota has gone on record. I was dismayed to learn that because I did not share the beliefs of the right, conservative movement, I am anti-American.

Learn more about Michele Bachmann here.

My friends are democrats, republicans, independents, and libertarians. They are all pro-America. My friends are Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim and Buddhist. And they are all pro-America.

It is very disturbing that in the past month some people have publicly accused elected public officials, leaders, volunteers of having anti-American sentiments because of disagreements over policy. This has got to stop today!

What can you do?

Sign a petition asking Congress to censure Michele Bachmann.

Donate to Elwyn Tinklenberg’s campaign. Every dollar counts in this close race in Minnesota’s 6th District.

If you can, contribute to other candidates running in competitive districts.

And on November 4, VOTE!

  • Share/Save/Bookmark

{ 0 comments }