The Box Under My Bed

Yesterday as I was cleaning I found a box labeled “HS Boys” and I can’t even tell you how excited I got. I was quite the little pack rat back in the day, keeping some really ridiculous things as mementos.  I knew going through this box was going to be quite fun.  

I finished what I was doing, got comfortable on my bed and popped open the lid.  Papers came sliding out instantly.  All sorts of love notes from various crushes and boyfriends in high school.

The first bit of stuff I looked through was all from “CH.” He used to write super sweet notes telling me how pretty I was and how he couldn’t wait to see me during school.  He was quite the artist and would write all his notes in different shapes on the paper.  On one he had drawn a big heart and written inside of it.  Another the note was written in the shape of a double sided arrow pointing up and down.  So fun! Next I found a mini McDonalds happy meal Barbie doll. I remember him bringing me that happy meal at pom practice and I thought it was just the cutest thing ever. How easily impressed I was as a sophomore in high school.  Of course, he was a popular senior so I’m sure that made me feel even more special. Our first kiss was probably one I will always remember.  We were both super nervous and outside my parents house one afternoon.  Right after it happened, he looked at me and said “Woah. I can’t believe I just did that”  with a shocked expression on his face.  I can still picture the look on his face to this day.  That was almost 13 years ago….and we still talk.

Next I looked at letters from another high school boyfriend we shall call “AR.” He was the first boy to ever tell me he loved me and the first boy I ever said it to. In my little box I have the IM conversation to prove it.  Yep, super romantic.  My first ‘I love you’ was through AOL instant messenger! We were the typical high school couple, he was a football player, I was the pommie by his side that always wore his letterman jacket. I only remember the good times with “AR,”  but judging from the box there must have been bad times too.  There were two stick figure drawings on napkins in the box.  One depicted “AR” on the football field with his leg broken in half and me laughing.  Another depicted a bunch of houses in a neighborhood with happy people, but for some reason “AR” and his house were floating down a river and being washed away.  Clearly I was angry about something to be so mean-hearted and dark.  That’s not me at all!  “AR” and I still talk every once in a while too. We were recently talking and I realized I kind of miss him. The conversation brought up feelings I wasn’t even aware I had. He had the kindest eyes and the best hugs. Maybe one of these days I can another one of those great hugs.

In the box I also found IM conversations from various boys (including one from “AR”s brother who was trying to woo me – scandalous),  a couple diaries/journals, concert tickets, a sheet comparing two boys I was trying to decide between for my prom date, poems a few boys had written for me and a couple secret admirer letters that were left in my locker at one point. I also found a chocolate rose and a bright yellow golf ball.  I have absolutely no idea where those are from, but clearly they weren’t memorable experiences or men.  I didn’t throw them away though.  I want to open the box up years from now and wonder again.  

I loved being transported back into a time when everything was so innocent. Life was so easy back then. I was happy without a care in the world. Too bad we all have to grow up!