The Hope for Love: First Crushes

Every February I can't help but think back on old crushes and first loves. Those loves that caused the most joy and the most pain.


I could never forget Patrick, who stole my heart in second grade. His blonde curly hair and blue eyes, made him the perfect match for me, a blonde headed, blue eyed girl. We even got to walk home together. He lived just up the street. He never knew I liked him. There was no way I would have ever told him. That would have been too embarrassing. And guess what? I saw him just the other day at a book signing. And you know what? He's an author, too.....

Then came the crush that seemed to linger forever. Nathan. I'd tell you his last name, but who knows, he could be reading this. I better protect the innocent.  Oh, I fell hard for that boy, and it wasn't just me. Everyone loved him. Any girl that breathed in our elementary school or the near vicinity couldn't help but be drop-dead in love with him.


The horribly terrible and yet most lovely thing about it all was that he lived near me and attended the same church, so, not only did I see him every day of the week at school, but on weekends, too.


But honestly, the worst part was that the most beautiful girl also lived near us and went to church with us. I never had a chance, really. But, I never let the dream die. Even when they got together, the two most beautiful people in my world, I had a hard time swallowing it. Surely one day he'd see the error of his ways. He never did. He just got more luscious and more amazing, while I kept on wishing. He did occasionally talk to me, but in truth, I was on a completely different level socially than he was. I was on the bottom rung, while he stood on the top. Yep, I still have neck problems from looking up at him. I have seen him since I moved away. I saw him at Lagoon, an amusement park in Utah a few years ago.
We're forty now and guess what? My heart jumped.

Do first crushes and loves ever die?
Who was your first crush and have you seen him lately?