Day 281: junior high flashbacks

 This evening I chaperoned the 9th grade cruise. 

My 30 Day Photo Fun assignment was "hands", 

so here are some captured during a slow dance. 

Of course with any junior high dance comes 

drama, tears and heartbreak. 

As I watched the kid sitting all alone, 

attempted to comfort the girl crying in the corner, 

and watched as one boy spent the entire cruise 

going from deck to deck not talking to anyone, 

I was overwhelmed with memories of how hard those years were. 

The crying girl explained that she'd been trying to 

impress some boy all year and this was her "last chance". 

What do you say to comfort her? 

Those things still happen you just learn to deal with it. 

That's not comforting at all. 

I said the classic "if he hasn't noticed you yet, he's not worth it". 

Totally true but not very helpful in that situation. 

My heart just goes out to these kids. 

I was the new kid in 9th grade and for a while things were pretty lonely. 

Fortunately I met a great group of friends that year 

(many of whom are still my best friends today), 

but I still remember all the crushes and dashed hopes. 

Everything was such a big deal back then! 

Actually I still tend to make things a bigger deal than they are... 

It does get better, kids! 

When you grow up you can be a crazy cat lady like me. 

Do you remember what it was like to be in 9th grade?