Like my First Date

So, who was your first date or kiss.....? In my case, it wasn't my first kiss, but just a date. You see her name was Pam, all 4 feet 11 of her. The photo above is her senior foto so it was several years prior to this 'swing around' style was taken.  What's the deal with this style?  Why would you want to have to 'look back' over your shoulder just to have a picture taken. Is it to show off that Farah Faucet hairstyle? Not sure....but all the girls had it. Now the girls are not girls now, far from it.....but actually this lady still looks somewhat like this lady. Just a bit more puffier in a few minor places.

Now....I stole Pam from Eric Freeburg. Eric was dating Pam at the time I decided to ask her out on a date. The reasoning behind my brave-heart was since Eric was a year younger than I was, (he was an early sophomore and I was a junior), I should have first dibs on a girl the same age  that I was. I remember after the date, I came around her house...real slow like in my car....hoping to get a glimpse of her and sure enough....there they BOTH were, out front outside of Eric's side of the car door, kissing.  I didn't even get to a kiss her and there she is doing it with this Eric. That was the end of that date with her. I wasn't fond of Eric.

But I still remember the date and the feeling of going out with Pam....oh yes....Pam was nice, was into music and seemed funny. I use the term 'seemed' for I barely talked with her prior to the date, and in fact I am not too sure I had a conversation with her at all, just quick glances. I often wondered, why did she accept?  I was just a dorky kid and she after-all was Pam. Anyhow, I remember it felt good when she said yes. I think I waited until all of my siblings were out of the house, my parents were doing 'whatever they did' and I borrowed the house phone to sneak in a quick call. I assume that is how it came about. 

But that 'first date' was quite the feeling. No slouch on having a date with just any old girl too, but Pam..... Now...the other day I was birding as the weather is beginning to break. These spring days, much like the start of baseball season, is a feeling of hope, the phoenix rising from the dreary winter. To go birding in nice weather is like the rising of the sun.

So....walking around the other day, I had my first date. I saw my first Belted Kingfisher of the year....,my first Kestral (at Forsythe), my first Orchard Oriole, my first Oystercatcher, my first Golden Plover, my first Gull Billed Tern, my first White-eyed Vireo, my first Red-breasted Grosbeak.....I mean, if this was truly a 'date', I made it easily to third base, easily........coming into home. I mean, wow....those are nice birds to see. All in blossom with spring colors, just like during a prom. The first time you see a bird for the season is as exciting as seeing a bird for the first time, period....or I like to think so.

Bottom line is that the first date never goes away.....only lingers in memory. Obviously it wasn't Pam's first date for years later, well...just 5-6 years ago, I saw Pam as we met later on in life and became 'just friends'. But no lingering of memory there for she had no recollection of my first date or I should say, 'our date'. Nothing what-so-ever. I suppose I should have kissed her on that first date and maybe left somewhat of an impression. 

I walk away today with multiple first dates, in the land of birds. But isn't a lady a bird?