I need to start here with some back story: when I was a junior in high school, I had a huge crush on a boy a year ahead of me. He was one of those super nice guys, the kind of kid that parents and teachers love, and the kind of kid I would like my sons to be when they are high school seniors. Egged on by my friends, I asked this nice boy to go to Homecoming with me; he said yes.

Two weeks later, he was elected Homecoming King and I nearly died. His mother told my mom later, “It’s a good thing Susan asked Rick to Homecoming or he probably wouldn’t have gone!”

We had a great time, by the way — easily the best high school dance I ever went to (and I went to them all, of course).

I haven’t seen Rick in probably 15 years; he’s married and has three little kids, and is a doctor. My parents still run into him every so often, and so I hear about what he’s up to. (My senior year in high school, I skipped a class meeting to go eat pizza off campus; when I came back, my friend Wendy said, “We elected you class alumni secretary, because your mom knows everyone.” My mom is still doing a great job of keeping up with everyone, too, after nearly 25 years.) (more…)