Golden Haired Boy

The Golden Haired Boy- with wild curly hair, that is how I will always remember him.
I was racking my brain today thinking back how old I was when I first met him. I want to say 8th grade, but was it 9th? I  don't recall when he started working at the Ice Cream Counter at Thrifty's.  My memory goes in and out. I do remember going up after school with my girlfriend from across the street.
Everyone was in love with The Golden Haired Boy. He was adorable, friendly, sweet and had the best smile. Many of the girls from St Luke's were smitten, I can only imagine how the other girls swooned over him.  I know I did.

I liked Golden Haired Boy for many reasons. He seemed like he always had a tan.... did he surf?
 He was smart, I liked his mind. He was only two years older than me, but he seemed so different than other boys I knew. He seemed truly kind and sensitive and had the kindest, warmest eyes.
I felt so sheepish around him... he affected me.

Meanwhile, another girl was having a major reaction to Golden Haired Boy, as well.
Many knew about this girls undying love for him, as a matter of fact. Tag.... in her mind, heart,
he was hers. When she claimed something- that was that. I was arch enemies with this other girl.
Not from anything I did really - I  just happened to become friends with her "best friend." She claimed people, tagged them, and that was it. In her mind she "owned" them. I was just slow on the take. As I write this over thirty five years later, I  feel so sad for the naive girl I was. I migrated in friendships. I never was a "since kindergarten til' death" kind of gal. I liked who I liked. If it worked - fine, if not, onward bound. That was just how I lived my life.This particular girl was not happy that I became friends with  her best friend / my friend. She was not shy about letting anyone within earshot know this.

Golden Haired Boy and I went out  once- this girl found out about it. Unfortunately she saw me in his car with him. This was not good, and I knew I was in for it. I was fifteen or sixteen, and she again told everyone within earshot I was .... not a very nice word.  Her rumors about me swirled. This hurt me terribly. Her parents were very rude to me, as were my friends parents. She yielded a lot of power through her anger. It devastated me. I did not understand the ramifications of doing something just for me simply because I liked him . I was not friends with her. He didn't seem to like her, but the die was cast.  She has had hatred for me... that seems to have lasted to this day.

Golden Haired Boy changed me.... he was so interesting, full of life, questions, visions of things I could not grasp. He was too much for my heart then. He was so real. I was too shy, swimming in insecurities and fears that I could not conquer at the time. I could barely look him in the eye, it was unbearable. I felt like he looked right into my soul.

I never saw Golden Haired Boy again since those days. Perhaps he is a farmer in the midwest, a  doctor, a movie mogul, a lawyer, a truck driver, who knows what became of him. I am  sure he is doing something interesting.
He sure made many girls hearts flutter back in the day, I am sure he still does!