This year, wow, what can I say about this year? It has gone by pretty damn fast, that’s for sure. Despite that though, it was definitely a year that I will always remember, both the good and the bad. Along with those I’ll also remember the tears and laughter, the inside jokes and the stupid fights. So here it goes:
I began school sunburned from too many days in the pool and tired from dealing with cranky customers, psycho Ricki, and lifeless Tricia. I saw all my old friends and the ones that I still couldn’t stand. Determined to make this year better than the last I dove in, ready to have fun, learn a lot, and grow. All three of these things happened, some more than others and in ways I never imagined. The beginning of the year was sort of the blur, all except for the air show. Heather, my dad, Nick, and I loaded up and made the hour and a half drive down there. After getting Pete we spent countless hours in the sun, getting burned and going deaf. I came back to school exhausted. Not to long after this I fell for Kevin, which was my big mistake. Then the weekend before Homecoming came and I was bummed out, bad, but Julie and Shannon were determined to make me feel better. We couldn’t go ice-skating so we ended up bowling and had the night of our lives. Then the next day we went shopping for dresses with Stacey. After spending all my money and laughing my head off I returned home to show my parents what I had purchased, my dad could have cared less and my mom just said that it was nice, not cute or pretty, just nice. That week flew by and everyone tried desperately to get Kevin to ask me to go with him, but he didn’t, and I honestly wonder why I ever thought he would? So Homecoming Friday came and I stayed after with Heather. It rained and was very cold, and to make things worse, I was “sick”. So Heather and I went home and I played one of many poker games with the BOYZ. Homecoming came the next day and I still felt like crap, but I went to Shannon’s and got ready with her before taking pictures. That night came and went and let’s just say that I will forever hate dances. Not long after that Thanksgiving came and for the first time in my life we went out instead of making dinner. With Wade in Ohio with Becky and Jeanni and Larry with the kids in Georgia we decided that cooking for five was just too much. Christmas came next and with it came decorating, shopping, and cooking. Out annual Christmas party was a blast and when my dad surprised me with Herman and Denise coming the night was made. We gave the BOYZ their Icehouse hats, played countless games of darts, and laughed like mad. Christmas Day the family was here and we just had a good time, laughing and opening gifts. I spent New Year’s Eve alone and when the ball dropped I kissed my cat, it was now painfully obvious how much of a loser I truly was. Dad’s family was here and we drove all the way to my Mom’s so she could see Izzy and Ally. Snow came and went with only one day missed. Valentine’s Day sucked and I will forever hate it. Mike returned home safe and sound, with Ryan following soon after. Garrett stayed in Iraq, but Larry kept us well informed on things. March was a pretty boring month, save the fact that the Magnum Cracker’s were born. VJAS drove us insane and Wildlife Journal did as well. April brought Spring Break, me driving, and a series of guy troubles. North Carolina became my safe haven and I walked funny for days from riding in that cramped car for so many hours. I went out on the road and discovered that it really wasn’t as bad as I thought. Things with Kevin went to hell somewhere in the beginning of May and somewhere along the lines I found myself telling him I really felt and then crying in his arms in the Driver’s Ed trailer when my life fell to pieces. Tennis was born and not long after Mark disappeared with it. I received the worst news of my life and cried myself to sleep every night for two weeks both before and after that. A panic attack like no other occurred one day in Biology and it took all my strength to keep from killing myself. I lost Kevin for good in the days that followed and found myself liking Sean more and more each day. SOLs came in with a bang and went out just as fast. Howell’s Day at the Diamond almost got me and my family killed. I won Bass Pro Shop money and laughed my ass off.
I changed my view on things and soon I was feeling better about myself, better than I had in a long time. I had many days of fun and laughing, but also many of pain and sorrow. I made lots of new acquaintances and just a few new friends. My grades dropped and then came back up and so did I. I learned a lot about myself and a lot about other people. I learned who I could trust and who I couldn’t, and there were only a few that I could. I fell in love and had my heart-broken, but it’s slowly getting better.