FRIDAY THE 21ST

Mom and I just watched MAMA MIA on t.v.  We were banished to my office because the upstairs was invaded by teenagers.  Linzi is having her 16th birthday party up there and being gracious hosts we just got out of the way and let them do their thing.  I am thinking that it might not be as easy as I think for me to go to sleep when I finish down here and go to bed.  And most of them are going to be staying the night.  So it will be an interesting 14 hours or so.  The kids played that spaghetti eating game with awkward kitchen utensils.  Now they're doing games or presents of something not quite quiet.  At least they are not chasing each other about the house. 
I was just going to write about the teenage infestation until I got on my computer and found a comment from Shelli about my post from last night.  Her final line got me thinking.  My memories of the marching band are not positive.  My memories of my short lived dance band experience is also not pleasant.  I did not like cleaning that elementary school by myself.  So what pleasant, positive memories do I have about my growing up days. 

Let's see.  I liked sports but of course on any given event it could just as well be bad as good.  You learn early on that just doing it has to be worthwhile.  And I have some very pleasant memories about a few times playing basketball and I eventually had some really good moments.  I even played 'in the zone' on a few rare occasions when it seemed as though I couldn't miss.  And I'm talking about long range stuff that back then still only counted for 2.  I liked spelling tests all the way through school.  I rarely studied and I almost always got a perfect score.  I remember the pleasant experience of seeing my name posted on a list in the hallway during my senior year for the top 10 % which really took me by surprise because I never considered myself a serious student.  I mean a student who had to study seriously.  It came so easy for me and when I realized that I was that good I was very surprised.  I did get a scholarship to B.Y.U. but it didn't last past my freshman year.  I just did not take it that seriously.  I liked having a car of my own from age 15 1/2 on, which I earned and paid for by working for my dad.  I ran for Seminary President in my senior year but lost to a friend from my own ward.  I selfishly took a little bit of satisfaction when he did not complete his full term because he got his girlfriend (also in our ward) pregnant.  I was a manager for the basketball team in my senior year.  And in the cafeteria style lunch room I was kind of a connection between the geeks, the nerds, the jocks, and even a greaser or two.  Of course we didn't call them that, but I was the bridge between a variety of different kids who did not socialize elsewhere, but at our lunch table.

So as I think about it I really had a good time being a kid in junior high and high school. But I would not want to do it again!