Memories of my first kiss intertwined with Valentine's Day.
Pic: Gigi & Keith reunion at Mamie's 60th Birthday, January 31, 2015, New Orleans City Park
As a kid, around this time of the year, we were encouraged in elementary school to give a Valentine's treat to our classmates – kind of like Kris Kringle is for Christmas.
So the boys were paired with randomly picked girls by our teacher, and we were asked to give simple penny ante candy – nothing big time – during the week of the big heart day.
Well, lo and behold, I got picked to pair with Gigi, a neighbor, whom I secretly had a crush on.
So how did a naive boy like me begin the Valentine's gift giving? I figured that I'd start the first day with Valentine candy mints that I bought at a K & B Drug Store nearby; these were shaped like hearts and, of course, were red in color.
We were not allowed to reveal who the Valentine's giver was to our recipients till the big day, but I gave Gigi a hint: a heart symbol with a kiss on it.
You see, Gigi was the first girl I had ever kissed. When I was 5 years old, my siblings had tricked me into doing that for some McKenzie's glazed donuts – my favorites that my dad used to get every Saturday for us when shopping at the Schwegmann's Grocery Story on Labarre Road.
Valentine's day came, and we all had a lot of fun at school. I managed to give Gigi a nice big Red Rose from my grandmother's (“Tita”) garden at our house; I think that all of those used egg shells which she had us throw into the garden back than really helped them to grow so large!
When Gigi went ahead and plucked a thankful kiss on my cheek that Valentine's morning, all I could do was what any normal 5 year old boy would do at that point: I said, “Yuk!” and continued playing football with my classmates.
Happy Valentine's Day to all, and especially to my better-half, Maria!
I don't know what I did at that age but I remember thinking what I was doing in the World at that age or maybe even 4.
I knew I was depressed although I knew nothing about depression until I was ever bit as old as 67.
Just knew I was having the depression. [don't remember being manic.]
I had to inform the good doctor that I believed I was bipolar.
Been on treatment for over 13+ years or thereabouts.
Since in-between four and eighty, I've come to believe in Reincarnation that was even excommunicated from the KJV bible in the year 553. [note 553 is 5+5+3=13=1+3=4]
A lot more to the story.
Perhaps a few of my stories in the writings old man Bob under a power of inspiration has produced by
Arithmancy Divination. 49+9=22=2+2=4
I never chose, I was chosen.
No I'm no real writer but content has and will continue to be our goal.
That was a very impressionable first kiss. I don't remember my first kiss. We made Valentine cards most years to exchange with classmates. In the sixth grade, our mother held kissing parties at our house to her delight with some of the best looking girls in our class. When the bottle pointed at me, I never refused, because it was never, Yuck!
Little Z is a little person who feels lost and alone. Will he be able to focus and gain control to find his way and find the friends he wants to have? Read this short but very sweet story to find out what happens next.
Pengey Penguin takes us on a memorable journey where an unlikely character, twists of fate, and minor miracles help him and his rag-tag Army of little fury animals save Christmas.325 page read to me 4-8 - 9 up reads very quickly.
Pic: Gigi & Keith reunion at Mamie's 60th Birthday, January 31, 2015, New Orleans City Park
