Monday, August 18, 2008

Hey Nineteen

August 18, 2008

Dear 16 Year-Old Self,

You are about to go out on a date with that guy who asked you out in French class way back during your Sophomore year. Remember? The one you said NO to in front of the whole class and then spent your entire lunch period writing the best note ever to, with the help of your friends. The one who walks through the halls of your high school with his white leather jacket on, acting like he owns the place. The one who drives the bright orange '72 Volkswagen Bug.

Yeah, him.

Sure, you chased him all summer. Well, all that hard work finally paid off and lucky you! You get to pick him up for your first date . . . in your parents '77 Mercury Cougar (try not to take out any stop signs in the process) since his car is in the shop.

Please be patient, he won't kiss you on this first date. He won't kiss you on the 2nd one either and it may take close to a month for this to happen - don't worry, he likes you. Unlike the tools you've been hanging out with, this one is a gentleman - although he may appear otherwise.

Just enjoy yourself. Enjoy the movie, The Abyss, and stop obsessing over your mall bangs (they're fine. . . and no, your breath doesn't stink, and no you don't have B.O., and no you are skinny enough and gosh darn it, people like you!).

Trust me, you may not know it now (or maybe you do since you keep writing your first name with his last name all over any scrap of paper you can find), but he is the one.

Nineteen years from now, you'll look up over a plate of spaghetti and there he will be, on the other end of the table - rolling his eyes at one of your children.

Yeah, I said children.

You'll have three, just like you always wanted. I know that seems like a long time from now - you have so much yet to see, to learn, to do . . . but it'll (the future, where I'm writing this to you) be here before you know it.

So enjoy the now. Enjoy the time. Enjoy the way it feels to be sixteen . . . enjoy those butterflies.

And dammit - enjoy those Guess? jeans too, because you won't be wearing those in 2008!

Signed,
The Future You

Yeah, like for reals, like Back to the Future, like Peggy Sue Got Married, like I am soooo not kidding.

29 comments:

Jenn @ Juggling Life said...

I totally hear you.

I'm married to a guy I met at the arcade at the ice skating rink when I was 16. It's been 21 years.

Heidi said...

Absolutely loving this! Thanks for posting!!

Susan said...

How great would it be if we really could write a letter to our 16 year old selves? Although that would take some of the fun out of the whole process and probably add anxiety if we knew the bad/difficult things that would be coming our way.
Great post idea! Love the details about how you and your husband first "met".

painted maypole said...

what a great love story, and the pictures! fantastic!

Anonymous said...

Oh, you.

Dad & I remember it so well.

I just spent some time with your French teacher. She remembers, too. When I asked her, way back then, about THAT boy, her reply?
"He's every Mother's dream". Boy, was she ever right.

xxxooo to both of you.
mom

Carrie said...

Ah, so sweet!

Beth Cotell said...

Such a great post!

Makes me wonder what I would say to my 16 year old self....

Kyla said...

Awesome. I'd have to say something similar to my 14 year old self. "That kid you just met on the Internet? You'll be married with two kids 11 years later."

Heather said...

I think I may have been inspired to do this to myself. But another day.

Anonymous said...

Love this! I married a guy that I met when I was in high school too. He didn't go to my school, but close enough. This was really cute.

Oh and I love your 80's hair! We single-handedly destroyed the ozone layer with our bangs!

Anonymous said...

Love this! I married a guy that I met when I was in high school too. He didn't go to my school, but close enough. This was really cute.

Oh and I love your 80's hair! We single-handedly destroyed the ozone layer with our bangs!

Tami said...

I love it! I married my Prom date. If only we knew then what we know now.

Carrie said...

great post. recession shmecession... you've got a WEALTH of good writing going on over here.


thanks for yet another good read!

Valarie Lea said...

This was great! I love the picture of yall at the top. :)

Laural Out Loud said...

How cool is it that you met the man of your life at 16! If I were to write this letter, it'd be to warn myself AWAY from the guy I was dating at the time, lol.

Unknown said...

Oh how I loved my Guess jeans....

Christina_the_wench said...

Sigh....I feel you. Jordache jeans and BK tennies.

Christina_the_wench said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Ooooh how lovely. I wish I could write my 16 year old self a letter. Oh she had so much to learn (and I think I could learn alot from her too!) Congrats!

Michelle said...

I nominate you!

Go LOOK!!!

http://www.theadventuresofsupermom.com/2008/08/i-love-your-blog-award.html

The Family said...

That was so cute. Love it. congratulations.

Anonymous said...

That. Is. Awesome! If only we could go back & talk some sense into ourselves, right?

flutter said...

this is absolutely adorable

Anonymous said...

This post really rocks, I must say.

Ann(ie) said...

I love this post!! And you guys were so adorable. What I wouldn't do to fit into those guess jeans again. *sigh*

Maggie, Dammit said...

I. LOVE. THIS.

Birdie said...

I love this! Wouldn't it be great if we could actually communicate with our 16 year old selves?

Anonymous said...

That was so sweet! I'm sucker for a cute love story. Happy POW.

Anonymous said...

Am sooo far behind in my blog reading but I am really, really, really glad I got to devour this one. Love this story. It's perfect!!! You two are too cute for words my friend.