A friend of mine posted this picture on Facebook and a flood of memories come back. My daughter will be going into 7th grade this year and my Son will be a freshman next year. I have told them repeatedly that Middle School was probably the most trying time in childhood that I had. The time where most boys turn into assholes and you really find out who your friends are. I believe this picture to be a 5th grade picture or before. I only say 5th grade because it appears I have my first round of braces on. I was blessed in 5th grade with braces, glasses, and special shoes with a wedge in them because one of my legs was longer than the other so the wedge helped with my hip pain. I told you it was an awkward year for me. But that's a whole other blog in itself. Long story short - we got a German shepherd puppy and the puppy ate my glasses, shoes, and my wedge. Mom was very upset but I was ecstatic. Ha!
That swimsuit. That swimsuit was hands down my favorite swimsuit, and one that I will remember for the rest of my life. I loved that swimsuit. I LIVED in that swimsuit. In the summer I would wake up, put on my swimsuit and my cut-off jean shorts, slip on my white canvas shoes from Ben Franklin that I had written all over in colored pens, and I would wait to go to the pool, or play in the sprinkler with Jennifer, or go out to the Country Club with Keni Jane or just go to her house and swim. 99% of my childhood memories include most of the ladies in this photo.
Maybe it's because I'm nearing 40. Maybe it's because my life is not in any capacity as to what I believed it would be at 37. Maybe it's because I have lost my way somehow. Maybe I shouldn't look through old year books and my Senior book because, frankly, I get depressed as hell. Regardless of what is making me miss my childhood so much, I can't help but remember how incredibly awesome my friends were when I was a kid. Without my friends, I would have been lost. Hands down the best friends a girl could have. What I wouldn't give to just go back to this time in my life. I often reference the ladies in this photo when speaking to my daughter about her current friends that change from year to year. Every kid goes through it. You change classes, you change friends throughout your entire school career year to year. In the end, you will hopefully still have one or two friends that will stick by you through thick and thin. Regardless of where you are at in life, what city or state you or they are living in, what you have been through, what you have done, they will always be there. I am very fortunate to have more than a few. Those that you can not talk to for years and you never skip a beat. They tell me when I am fucking up but they also accept me for everything I am. And for that, I am grateful. Had it not been for these ladies, I would not be the woman I am today. Good or bad, you all impacted my life and I cannot thank you enough. Love all you bitches... Love you long time.
