It was Saturday night, I had ten days left till I was sixteen, and as my very first date I was going to Homecoming. I spent hours perfecting myself, slipping on my new dress, testing out makeup techniques to make my eyes look bigger and blue, and letting Mom pin flowers into my over-generously hairsprayed curls.
We took pictures, and then David and I went to his mom's house for dinner. She was once Miss Arizona, and so she helped us go all out, making their home feel more like a restaurant with a small table for the two of us, a three-course meal, dimmed lights and a flickering candle, and jazz music- it helped that his soon-to-be-sister-in-law is a waitress. After that we went to the dance, the Hawk Hall at school now jungle-themed. Though I recognized a lot of people, none of my good friends are sixteen yet, so we ended up with it just being the two of us "alone" on the hot, crowded dance floor. But the music pulsed through the room. I even got him to dance a little! After almost getting separated because of the large amount of people, we eventually began to hold hands, and then hardly let go the rest of the evening. We talked, smiling and laughing as we found out little bits and pieces about each other. He continually complimented me. Twice, he leaned forward to kiss me.
But I did nothing. And both times he ended up having to turn and kiss my cheek instead.
It was such a fun night. But what do I do? Although it felt nice to have my fingers laced through his, to be honest I don't want to be "girlfriend" right now. Although he so obviously likes me and I could have so easily kissed him, to be totally fair, it just.... I just.... shouldn't. He is so sweet, and I respect him, but I guess I just can't be fake. Does that make sense? We can be friends, but guess I just don't like him in that way. Nor any other guy at this particular moment. And it would be wrong to act otherwise towards him.
So great. You're probably laughing at me because it's only my first date and already I'm being completely problamatic.
But I guess that's just being a teen. You gotta wing it. And be fully honest.
Sometimes I just wanna kick myself. I mean, why on earth am I so frustrated that we accidentily didn't record Once Upon a Time Season 2 Premiere while we were at the fireside? I mean, yeah, that's basically the only show I'm "dedicated" to, but it's just a TV show! Come on. Look at everything we have compared to so many other people. Yet here I am, having basically wasted the free hours of my Sunday just waiting for the show, and then wasted even more time trying to find the epidsode on the Internet even though we can easily get access to it tomorrow. It's ridiculous. Please, someone knock my little first-world head and screw it on straight.
Being a teen... Does that tell you all? I feel like I'm in one of those cliche movies, and guess what. I'm totally loving it.
I mean first off, my first date will be Homecoming. I'm a cheeleader, and I was asked with a rose by a football player, David. Of course I said yes {my cheezy response? "It would be sweet to go with you," as I handed him a giftbag with a cupcake and a caramel apple.} My birthday will be ten days afterwards, but I figure that "sixteen" isn't a number, but a level of maturity, and I seriously doubt that my personality will spontaneously and drastically change in just a week-and-a-half.
Except of course, just a matter of days after I get asked, I get a phone call from a girl who was on my cheer squad last year. She apparently was going out with David before and is curious if he and I are going to pursue a relationship after Homecoming, because she still has a thing for him. And not only this, but I have another guy trying to go out with me too. How great it is when both guys coincidentally run into you within just twenty seconds of each other after a football game. Yikes! Yeah, we'll have to see how this all works out with the four of us... {I don't like drama.... I don't like drama....I really don't like drama....}
Did I
tell you how freaking scary cheer can be? Dude, I'm not all that afraid
of heights, but when your life is in the hands- and I mean this quite
literally- of the girls standing beneath you, holding you up... I'm
sure you can imagine. But it is fun to be the center of the stunt! And
it's also fun to visit your old elementary school in your cheer
uniform, because all the little girls stare and point and gape at you
because for some reason, they are under the impression that cheerleaders
only exist in fairy tales, or so it seems to me. I'm not even kidding
you, this one group of girls looked up from a cheer-leading catalog
in time to see me. When they did, they got all excited and started
flipping through the pages frantically, asking me what page I got my
uniform out of. They were disappointed when I answered, "Oh, I'm sorry
honey! I got mine from the high school!"
Alright, so then after the game on Thursday, I had all this homework and studying to do. But even though I knew I would be up till midnight working on homework, I knew it was inevitable. I mean, both Chelsea and Karissa had texted me to find out if I wanted to support my hawks tomorrow on TV! So by just after 5:30, I left the house with my teal skinny jeans, rhinestoned cheer shirt, cheer bow, and obnoxiously huge hoop earrings. I guess we had been misinformed about the time, because Channel 3 News didn't show up for another hour, but what the heck! We were on TV! Chanting for Highland!
After all the tests and and work of school, the girls and I all met up at Chelsea's before going to the mall to get some icecream and then- heck yeah! Watch House at the End of the Street on its opening day! Guys, why do I like scary movies so much? We were seriously cuddled up in less chairs then there were of us girls! Some of my friends closed their eyes and screamed while everything happened, but I never blinked as I clenched their hands and kept my feet up off the floor. It was so intense! And Jennifer Lawrence once again kicks butt. Except I'm pretty sure the previews for some of the movies beforehand freaked me out even worse- plenty enough of a reason for me to obey the no-seeing-rated-R-movies rule.
On Saturday, I was thrilled to meet this new baby. You see? A Saab, actually assembled in Europe, that looks brand-new and is so fun to drive around! I guess I probably shouldn't call it "mine," since I guess I'm not the one paying, but if Mom already has the Excursion/Big Green Machine... and Dad already has his little stick-shift Mini Cooper... and no one else in the family can drive... Can't wait to actually get me license. October, here I come!
I also had the opportunity to visit a nursing home with AYT. Back last spring, Rachel and I joined a ground called Flashback, and with a group of about ten other girls we got to create a short show about a group of reporters in the 1930's. Together we learned lots of old-time songs to dance to as well as history. We had no rehearsals than for about three months, with summer and everything, so by the time we got back together, cheer had started for me and a bunch of other girls didn't even try to stay involved. It was kind of hectic. But we managed to get things partially back together and performed. So even though we were missing half our group and a lot of lines were forgotten, it was really neat to do it. The folks there, though many have sadly reached a point where they can't hear well or speak well or their minds aren't as quick as they once were, many sang along to the songs they had known back in the 1930's. That enough was worth it.
Yep. So close to being sixteen, and already life is spinning. How crazy. How fantastic!
I remember.
September 11, 2001. I was not quite five years old, and the radio echoed the screams of those who might not live to see tomorrow. The towers were coming down.
I cannot forget. Although perhaps I was too young to understand, I recognized the fear and distress etched across my mother's face.
We lived in Massachusetts at the time. Daddy worked for a big company in the middle of Boston.
So far Manhattan had already been attacked. D.C. too had been struck by the enemy. Who was next? Boston was a popular American city, so might the attackers have decided to target the people there as well?
I can only imagine the relief that flooded through my parents upon being reunited that day. But thousands of other families were not struck with the same fortune. Although just a few hours before it had seemed like our country was, for the most part, was at peace, now our soil had been assaulted by those who shrieked words of hatred.
Why? How could someone's heart be so black that they could murder so many of the innocent? But, on September Eleventh, the day whose numerals represent the American call of distress, 911, it happened.
I pray for those who were hurt that dreadful day.
And I announce to the world that I am proud to be an American.
I cannot forget. Although perhaps I was too young to understand, I recognized the fear and distress etched across my mother's face.
We lived in Massachusetts at the time. Daddy worked for a big company in the middle of Boston.
So far Manhattan had already been attacked. D.C. too had been struck by the enemy. Who was next? Boston was a popular American city, so might the attackers have decided to target the people there as well?
I can only imagine the relief that flooded through my parents upon being reunited that day. But thousands of other families were not struck with the same fortune. Although just a few hours before it had seemed like our country was, for the most part, was at peace, now our soil had been assaulted by those who shrieked words of hatred.
Why? How could someone's heart be so black that they could murder so many of the innocent? But, on September Eleventh, the day whose numerals represent the American call of distress, 911, it happened.
I pray for those who were hurt that dreadful day.
And I announce to the world that I am proud to be an American.
I've decided that, no matter how crazy things get, you can always make life enjoyable...
That you can always fly... Even when the sky decides that literally the one day it feels like raining is on picture day.
That your friends will always be there... Whether you're at the football game with you're teal pants and Highland jerseys, staying up screaming as you watch The Sixth Sense, or playing with puppies, feeling fat as you eat homemade caramel popcorn, it's so fun to hang out.
That even when you lose the game... It's okay. Well maybe not. But even if your Hawk pride is scathed, you can still laugh at how you accidently came to the game an hour early.
And when, in your cheer uniform, one of the football players pulls you aside and writes #57 on your hand and tells you to watch for him in the game... Oh gosh. Since when have all those years and "forever away" suddenly disappeared and the excitements being a teen become reality?
It's so dumb. Yet it bothers you unless you set it straight! That's how it was when I couldn't find my earring. Seriously, why should I care? But I did- I mean, it was cute, it was brandnew, and it's my earring! I was walking onto the bus when I noticed it had fallen out, so I called my mom to have her retrace the steps and make sure it hadn't fallen out on the sidewalk. Now before you think I'm being ridiculous even trying to look, this earring was a big blue feather with pretty little trinkets- impossible to miss. By the time she called back, I had arrived at the school. She hadn't found it. Shoot! Then she suggested to see if it had fallen down my shirt.... and sure enough.... it had been right in my shirt all along! Of course this would happen to me...
Yet another week filled with crazy- five tests crammed in two days as well as a game to cheer at {we won!} and staying up till 1:30 AM studying- except what's the fun in discussing this?
No, I'm more excited about the weekend. Freakin happiness! Though I've probably gotten a little bit too much sleep, I've also gotten to swim {is it bad that it's September and still over 110 degrees?}, watch scary movies, act dumb with the challenge games {it was interesting to watch my Unlce Dave have to put on bright pink lipstick}, and play with the puppies.
Cute. Anything more needed said?
No, I'm more excited about the weekend. Freakin happiness! Though I've probably gotten a little bit too much sleep, I've also gotten to swim {is it bad that it's September and still over 110 degrees?}, watch scary movies, act dumb with the challenge games {it was interesting to watch my Unlce Dave have to put on bright pink lipstick}, and play with the puppies.
About Me
Katie Urness
SLP, Wife, and Mama
Welcome to Kate of the Desert! I've shared my life stories here since 2008. Here you may find the dramatic musings of an 11-year-old, the romanticized tales of a high schooler, the adventures of a young adult living in Hawaii and Europe, the journeys of marriage and motherhood, and all the ups and downs in between. Read More
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