Friday, June 21, 2013

My First Kiss

Today's LBC topic comes to us from our buddy Delerious - currently on an extended stay in China.

I've joked in the past about my shyness but I assure you it is true.  Since discovering today's topic I have wracked my brain trying to recall that momentous event. To the best of my recollection, it was in the summer between my junior and senior year in high school. 

I can hear the guys laughing already.  Yep - I was a slow starter.
There was a girl - Eileen - that I always thought was really cute but she was my sorta best friends girlfriend. 
 Nelson and I were on the football team. Well Nelson secured a summer job along with my pal Dave in Yosemite  - one of the most spectacularly beautiful places on the planet. Remind me to tell you how a large portion of Yosemite was stolen from a very good friend of mine's family - imminent domain truly sucks.


In typical guy fashion Nelson asked me to "take care" of Eileen in his absence. He gave his blessing to my dating her - he was no dummy, realized how shy I was and so figured I was safe.

So - long story short - Eileen and I started going out. She kissed me on the first date (gotta love aggressive Catholic girls). It was as good as I'd imagined. We actually had a lot of fun that summer and she kinda brought me out of my shell. Our last date that summer was a big one -  a day in SF including lunch at Fisherman's Wharf  Grotto No. 9 - always my fave place to eat on the Wharf  - followed by a concert at Candlestick Park by 4 guys known as The Beatles. Yep - the historically astute among you will recognize the date 8/29/1966 as the fabs very last concert.  You can hear the audio on Youtube if that interests you.
Now 8/29/1966 was also the first day of double-session practice at Mt Eden - the start of footbal season. I was penciled in as a 2-way starter. When I showed up for practice the next AM I found myself listed as 4th string on the depth chart.  Coach Frederick  was gonna show me I couldn't flaunt his rules.  Ahem. Next day I was 3rd team, day after 2nd and by the 4th day I was again the starter. Along the way I beat the snot outta the guys that were placeholders - LOL. Once the mission was accomplished I became my pleasant self again - friend to all the underclassmen on the team.

Since Nelson was back my long hot summer with Eileen came to an end. All in all it was well worth the demotion as I genuinely enjoyed myself and it prepared me for the next step - dating someone that actually really cared for me - a cute blond named Lyn (no - not that one!) that I'd met on a double date - our Junior Prom
- to be exact the previous year.  Lyn and I hit it off and actually had more fun with each other than with our dates.  She had a rapier-like wit and we traded barbs and laughed all evening.  That's Lyn and her date Rich.


Eileen did do a really nice thing for me - she threw me a surprise 17th birthday party a month or so after our Beatles date. And our song?? The very prophetic Cherish by the Association.   I'd love to say we are still friends but I haven't seen or spoken to her since 1978.  We did have a somewhat humorous "reunion" of sorts when her step daughter dated my step brother - a link she was unaware of and that Brian (step brother) and I had some fun with.  Lyn on the other hand still emails occasionally and updates me on her happily married life in Oregon.
I hope you enjoyed this little trip through my back pages....
That's my tale of my first kiss.  Check out what the other LBCers have to say. 

14 comments:

  1. Our cultures were vastly different and dating was unheard of and just not done in my part of the world. All fun was clandestine trysts with one ear all the time concentrating on not being found out. But we had access to American comics and books and would long for that kind of freedom. If you come across any Indians of my age group over there, you can ask and confirm the veracity of my observations.

    A lot of clandestine things did happen however and I shall write about mine anon. In the meanwhile, I assure you, your post took me back to those days of longing to be in a society like the American.

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    1. We do have our good points Ramana - :) that was a grand time to be growing up and a grand place.

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  2. I enjoyed the journey back in time with you.

    I bet this is one unfamiliar to you, Chuck:

    http://youtu.be/RL5RRFtKQZM


    Share on facebook Share on twitter Share on email Share on print More Sharing Services
    21
    Eileen Alannah
    [print]
    (E S Marble, J R Thomas)

    Eileen Alannah, Eileen Asthore
    Light of my soul and it's Queen evermore
    It seems years have lingered since last we did part
    Eileen Alannah, the pride of my heart
    Oh, darling loved one your dear smile I miss
    My lips seem to cling to that sweet parting kiss
    Mavourneen thy dear face I see at the door
    Eileen Alannah, Augus Asthore

    Faithful I'll be to the colleen I adore
    Eileen Alannah, Augus Asthore
    Faithful I'll be to the colleen I adore
    Eileen Alannah, Augus Asthore

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  3. You're right - and that guy can sing.

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  4. Brought you out of your shell, Shackman? That's one way of putting it. Pity our timeline and geography don't match. Now I'll never be your first kiss. Still, as the philosopher says, and I truly hope Ramana won't call it off here and now: "The first will be the last, and the last will be the first." Back to the crock pot.

    U

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    1. LOLLOL - aw come on - you're more fun with the pressure cooker - my comment was made for irony :)

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    2. What do you mean she is more fun with a pressure cooker? She IS a pressure cooker.

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    3. That my friend was the point......

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  5. I think any dating does help to bring us out of our shells. Looking back, I can see how each date helped me to become a little more confident. I didn't usually kiss my dates, but even just having to spend an evening talking to them helped me grow me confident. :)

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  6. I agree D - once you realize it's not all smoke and mirrors and just people thins go better

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  7. You would have been right at home with me in Kansas. The main difference would have been the lack of Yosemite-grade surroundings and cultural events like the Beatles singing! However, you would have had a bunch of guys to take it out on at football practice ... and a few Catholic girls to teach you how! Some things span our continent.

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  8. I would never have guessed that you had been a shy guy in High School! What sweet stories you shared. I am sure that Eileen and Lyn would be touched that they have been remembered in such a lovely way.

    My first kiss was shared with a fellow I ended up going steady with at 16 for a year during my Sophomore year and beginning of Junior year (he broke up with me 4 days before the Junior Prom...what a cad!) On our first date, we were sitting in his car in my driveway talking and my Mom was flicking the porch light on and off signaling me that it was time to get into the house! I was so embarrassed. As I was saying good-night he leaned forward and our first kiss was a near miss...definitely not a direct lip to lip hit. We made the necessary adjustments and our second was dead on and lovely.

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  9. LOL - cad indeed - add dummy to the list Patty

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