The other day I was watching this fascinating talk by Jonathan Harris, a computer scientist and artist who has written brilliant programs that take the temperature of the Internet -- what people are feeling, thinking, writing about at any given moment.
One of the thing he says in the talk is that the same touchstones come up over and over again -- stories from childhood, weddings, deaths, the things that all of us experience in one way or another. We love to tell our own stories, not only because those stories helped form us but because they connect us to one another. Sometimes just telling a tiny part of your story is enough, which is the genius behind sites like PostSecret (warning: If you've never visited PostSecret before, prepare to spend at least an hour there.)
All this is an overlong way of introducing something I'd like to try on this blog every so often. For now I'm calling it "Tell me about..." but holler if you've got a better title. I'll throw out a common experience, and you tell your story in the comments.
Here's the first: Tell me about... your first kiss.
Go.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Tell me about... your first kiss
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21 comments:
february 1991, after church, beside a lake, 1976 burgandy plymouth volare, stopped on the way to a friends house....will never forget it!
This wasn't my first kiss, but it was the first kiss with my boyfriend who I've been with 1 yr 3 months.
We've been friends for seven years and always had feelings for one another, we tried to date once before, but I chickened out.
This time around, we went out and after that first date, he kissed me in my parking lot and it was the scariest, most nervous moment I've ever had. I just remember thinking, "please don't let me laugh." I laugh when I'm nervous. Since then, there have been many more kisses and happiness!
It was a little bit terrible - definitely not the romance I had imagined my first kiss to be. He was my first boyfriend, and he had a few people from our class over to hang out. I was elected to assist him in picking out a new CD for everyone to listen to and I was shaking as I followed him into the other room. I was 14 and after he kissed me, he told me that my hair smelled like Strawberry Bubbalicious. I was so nervous that I don't think I even laughed until I got home that night, though I still get a big kick out of it to this day.
Hockey date scene of Happy Gilmore in the 9th grade.
I was at summer camp and I was almost 12 - the year, 1989. He rode up on his bike and I thought we were going to "peck" - needless to say, I was competely caught off guard when a tongue was shoved in my mouth! My immediate reaction was to spit on the ground, wipe my hand over my mouth and yell "ewww, gross." He jumped on his bike and rode off. I was in love. :)
1976, 4th grade, springtime, recess.
his name was Stephen.
the nuns caught us.
ok 4:06, similar experience. I invited a guy who was older <18 to my 17> and worked at the supermarket never dreaming he'd say yes to a geeky nerd like myself, but he did!! We had a great time at the prom itself, but in the car, just before heading into the after party, he leaned over and stuck his tongue in my mouth!!! Having never been kissed, I was so grossed out I just over reacted and shoved him off of me. Needless to say, the after party was NOT fun for either of us and I did my best to avoid shopping with my mom for about 2 yrs.!!!
15 yo, 4th of July, town picnic. Sitting on the hood of his jeep watching fireworks.
Hey, 7:15.... do you feel better, letting everyone know what a moron you really are, or is that too broad a concept for your feeble mind to grasp?
Need me to spell the word m-o-r-o-n for you, or are you 100% comfortable with the fact that all those people are laughing *at* you, not *with* you?
Early 1980, 5th grade. In my baseball uniform, before a little league game. Girls from school there to watch. A friend takes me and a girl around the corner, sets us up, tells us we should kiss. I stand up on a step because she's taller than me, and we kiss. No tongue, but it lasted a few seconds. Never forget it!
My first kiss was kind of awkward and I didn't really like the guy, so I'd prefer to forget it.
But the first - and only - time I kissed the first guy I really LOVED is one I'll never forget.
I was living in south-central Pennsylvania (I'm now in south-eastern PA). And David was from way upstate New York. But, during my senior year of high school, he visited his cousin, who lived just down the street from me, for about a week in April. (David and I had already known each other for about four years at this point - from a prior visit to his cousin's.)
We spent the night playing basketball at the local park. And then sat in my parents' living room talking. It was the first - and probably last - time I ever told a guy I loved him and really truly meant it.
When it was time for him to go back to his cousin's house, we walked out to his aunt's van. It was drizzling really lightly, almost like a mist. We hugged. And then he kissed me. I totally wasn't expecting it and moved my head, and he ended up getting the corner of my mouth. We laughed about it. He made the joke that we'd cross paths in NYC in 8 years and not recognize each other.
It's been 8 years. And we haven't talked in 6.
And, every time I hear The Cure's "Pictures of You" ("and we kissed as the sky fell in, holding you close, and I ran to your heart to be near"), I cry.
spring of 6th grade at sedgefield middle here in charlotte. after school, and it was basically planned out. we passed notes back and forth, folded into tiny paper footballs, talking about how we wanted to kiss...ha!! how awkward.
we were behind the building so that the parents in the carpool line couldn't see, but there were a crowd of other kids around us. we pecked, blushed b/c everyone saw and hoot'n'hollered, hugged goodbye, and ran off to our waiting mothers... i spilled to my mom within 4 minutes i'm sure.
it's still utterly awkward to think about, but still kind of charming at the same time. overall, a good "first kiss" in the books.
The summer before 10th grade - my first love, right after band practice. We were walking together and suddenly he stopped, and turned to me, and pushed me against a wall and kissed me *good* -
I'll never forget it, and that is still how I prefer for him to kiss me!
I was 12 in the corner of the roller rink with a kid name "shoe" I am not sure where that names came from. It was funny of course I will never forget where it happened and the kids name but I have no idea what the kiss was like..lol
First kiss? Sucking my arm in the quiet confines of my bedroom wondering if my inexperienced technique would doom me to eternal virginity before being literally gagged by my prom date's disgusting saliva tongue shoved down my throat. The baby blue tuxedo with matching satin cumber bun, white shoes and ruffled shirt didn't help - nor did the Boon Farms buck a bottle wine in the back seat of the Vista Cruiser with the tune "Dream On" playing in the background. Full strike out as far as advancing to second base on this memorable date.
Saving grace? A romantic first kiss completely alone together on the very top step of the Lincoln Memorial over looking the Washington Monument's reflecting pool and the U.S. Capitol all lit up on a cold November night. Fortunately, this guy was a keeper. 21 years together and still counting... God bless America.
cheryl
My first kiss was with Reggie, and it was so awkward because we both wore glasses. Apparently, it wasn't his first because he knew to remove his glasses. I didn't know any better, so my wire-rimmed glasses poked him in the eye. So, needless to say, it was not a pleasant experience for either of us. He was injured and I was embarrassed!
My first kiss was unexpected and late happening. I was Junior in high school and our basketball team's star player, but I was slow to approach girls. Many approached me, but I was picky (and shy). My older brother was a real mover with girls, but it didn't come easy to me. After a game in mid-January I was at a party and about midnight one of my classmates, Sheree asked me if I wanted to go out on the porch. Midnight outside in West Virginia was usually very cold in the 1970's and it was on this night. I remember thinking it was an odd request, then thinking something was about to happen and then thinking will I know what to do? Well, I was right something was about to happen and I did kinda know what to do. I remember immediately deciding I liked it while we were kissing and I thought I did just fine. Sheree and I never dated, but after that night I started dating regularly, going to movies and stuff like that. I'm glad I didn't carried away with girls too soon and too much....in my 20's, girls became my all-consuming desire. I can't imagine trying to deal with that in my mid-teens.
I was in the eighth grade. He was in the 7th and let me wear his Member's Only jacket. "Heaven" by Bryan Adams was playing in the background.
He died of AIDS 2 years later.
Re: Members Only jacket "first kiss" story (1:33 PM). A member of the Class of '81 appreciates your courage in all your heavenly God given glory. Thank you for your candor, love and honesty regarding your AIDS story. May you find true and everlasting love again. Love is wanting to be loved. You will be. Patience is wanting but attainable. Many thoughts and prayers are with you. You are good. Alleluia for who you are. Praise and glory for the world to change.
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