He was the first boy I really fell for. It was the summer between my 6th and 7th grade year. We went to the public pool a lot during that year. I got to meet a lot of cute guys, but Justin is the one that stuck out the most. I was 12 and had turned 13 that August. I would be attending junior high and it was a completely new school. That was the summer I also wore my first bikini. I was so shy and bashful about wearing one.

I just remember talking to him a lot and hoping that maybe he’d be my first “official” boyfriend. However, once school started and we became acclimated to the new surroundings as all the elementary schools now merged into one big one at the junior high. Cliques began to form and the “popular” kids emerged.

I never was one of the popular kids but I also wasn’t someone who was shunned. I blended into the crowd so to speak. I liked it there. Did I want to be popular? Of course. Back that my self-esteem wasn’t all that great. However, I was also glad I didn’t stick out in a bad way.

Back to Justin. So guess where Justin fell in all of this. That’s right. The popular kids. Needless to say, nothing ever went any further than a crush but I sure had hopes.

I wonder if we all can look back at our first crush with fondness. A time when we were still so innocent to what the world held before us.

For me, I’m so thankful that now I have a husband whom I love and he loves me back. I never talk disparagingly behind his back as I feel that would dishonor who he is. I feel both blessed and lucky to have him as he really is the love of my life. My other half. So Justin, eat your heart out. Look what you missed out on. LOL Just kidding.