Sunday, January 25, 2009

My Girl

Photo by: My Dad/ Ron and Lily/ August 1987/Windsor, Ontario
Current Location: Windsor, Ontario, Canada/ 42°19′60.0″N 83°1′60″W

Dear Lily,

It's been twenty two years since this picture was taken. Twenty two years of wondering where you are, what you're doing and why you dumped me that day. I used to spend my nights looking out the window, wishing upon a star, hoping one day you'd come back to me. But no, you never did.

I gave you my heart, my soul, and even my tooth. I hope you now realize that tooth fairies aren't real--just like Santa, the Little Mermaid and the monster under your bed. There was a time in my life when I'd give you the world, shower you with gifts from my mothers closet and even let you have first bite of my jelly sandwich. At recess I used to push you on the swings, stand at the bottom of the slide to soften your descend, and held your hand when it was time to line-up.

Remember me? I was the only boy on the block with a banana seat BMX and colorful strings dangling from the handle. It even had a basket but it broke when I tried to fit you in it. Remember? Sure the other boys made fun of me because of my bike, but in your eyes it didn't matter because I was still your knight in shinning armor, your chauffeur peddling you to the midnight ball--and that handsome boy who defied all odds by choosing to ride with training wheels until they fell off.

Lily, you had a gift that no first grader ever had. Your drawings inspired me, touched my soul, and made me quiver in a spiritual disbelief at how beauty can derive from such small fingers. Your stick people were always straighter than mine, your smiley faces really smiled, and your portrait of me made me look...well, like all the other stick people you drew, but you always had the loving courtesy to tell me which one I was. And for that I loved you.

Wow, Lily, twenty two years and I haven't seen you since. Do you think of me? Would you recognize me if you saw me on the street? Do you still have my tooth?

I don't know why I'm writing you this letter, maybe I miss you, maybe God is reminding me you're still in my heart, or maybe...just maybe it's ALSO because I've been tagged by Angel from Insights From the Demigoddess to write about love, pick-up lines, and sheer moments of embarrassment. Well, what better time to write about you on this 'Where the F am I' blog than now?

Lily, I hope by some devine fate you some how stumble upon this little property of mine on the World Wide Web. I hope you read every word I've written and find it in your heart not to sue me for publishing your photo online. If anything, please know this: you were my first love.

You will always have a place in my heart because I know that deep down, I'm still in yours, too. Your smile still lingers in my mind. Your bubble gum and chocolate scent still makes me giggle when I walk thru candy aisles. And every time I go to the dentist, I can't help but to think of you.

So with that, I bid you farewell once again. I wish you love, success, and peace...in the Middle East.

Forever and ever yours,
Ron

P.s: "If you were a booger, I'd so pick you!"

19 comments:

no more said...

i hope someday you find her and let her ride in your basket again ;-)

Anonymous said...

That was so unbelievably sweet, I think I might get a cavity. There is nothing like the memories of a first love.

Of course, my first love was James Bond- and he never acknowledged my existence.

John said...

Ah... now I know Ron is a hopeless romantic too. Gotcha brother!

The Demigoddess said...

Aw, this is such a sweet letter. Lily would be swept off her feet if she gets to read this and she'll forget about suing you.

Well, one can also tell that Ron is quite the player when he was just a kid. See, he even had his arms around Lily. And that grin on his face! He enjoyed every moment.

Kimberly said...

Oh, how sweet!

DUTA said...

What a sweet little pair, dressed up in real nice childrens'clothes !
And the letter, oh well, Better Late Than Never.

Unknown said...

Wouldn't that be something if she read this post and contacted you? Stranger things have been known to happen! :)

LILY ... ARE YOU OUT THERE? CONTACT RON!!!!

I hope she does!

Great letter!!

Small Footprints
http://reducefootprints.blogspot.com

Jay said...

This was so incredibly sweet. Do you have any idea where she is now? what about her family? ---

I was engaged in the first grade. Of course, he stole the ring from his mother --- had to get it back from me and give it back to her, and we broke up b/c I just couldn't marry a thief. :)

Ron said...

Muse: If I ever do find her again, I'd write a thousand posts just on her :p

Cheryl: Could you imagine if she's a dentist now? What are the odds of that happening? James Bond? He's too old!

John: Yes, I'm a hopeless romantic, I admit...but aren't we all?

Demigoddess: Contrary to what you may think, I didn't date again until I turned 14! Does that still make me a player?

Hillybilly: Thanks! This happens in the boonies too, yes?

Duta: Yes, better late than never, atleast now she can read...if I were to write this letter back then, we'd spend hours trying to pronounce every letter.

Footprints: If she emailed me tomorrow, I'll post it on here for sure! Wow, it makes me smile just to think of it...hey, you're right, it could happen!

Jay: I have no idea where her family is at right now. I think they moved to Toronto the following winter after this picture was taken. She's got one of those standard Asian lastnames, so googling it doesn't help..there's thousands of them out there with the same lastname.

Engaged in first grade? Now I for sure wouldn't have done that...that's just too crazy! And you said yes? LOL

Young Traveler said...

May we all be lucky enough to have a Lily, even if just for a short time.

Anonymous said...

What a sweet post :-)

Diana said...

aw ron, this is an adorable post.
now we see another side of you apart from your love for photography :)
i hope you find her again!

Anonymous said...

James Bond is TOO old?

How can he be too old?

We're going to have to talk about this.

I'll see you online.

Sara said...

wow...that was sweet! just in time for valentine's day too :)

Hope she finds you and reconnects.

Anonymous said...

is this not the sweetest thing?? the picture reminds me of one i have when i was about 3 and sitting next to a little drummer boy (toy drum). i'm smiling as i read your post. thank you!

Javier said...

Wow Ron, what a letter! so romantic, truthful and sincere... you know... if I had to write a letter like that I wouldnt know where to begin, really... thanks for sharing a piece of your heart with such sincerity and almost through the eyes (fingers even) of a 10 year old!

have a nice week!

Alexandra said...

Reading this, I want to be your girl. Shhh... don't tell my husband! :-)

The Demigoddess said...

Ron, yes, you are a player. You started dating when you were still fourteen? That is way too young. Lol.I think an acceptable age to start dating is 16---but not fourteen.

Bon Don said...

RON!! That is the best love story EVER told!! I just want to squeeze you!! and is that not just the cutest picture... pinch your cheeks for me!!

(Ron not those ones... I meant your face cheeks!)

*Bon Don*