Third Grade pt 2 - Life Lesson Let Her Win

Annie...I often wonder if anyone else thinks back to their first car date. It was special, who else took their mom with them on their first date? She was our chauffeur. We drove around in the light blue Buick after Annie was dropped off at my house. We then headed to Gary Don's Pizza Parlor, which had absolutely the best pizza I have ever eaten...wish it was still in operation.

When we got to the pizza place, Annie and I sat at a booth, while my mom and brother and her mom and brother sat at a table. It was an extremely romantic meal of pepperoni pizza and cokes. I'm not sure what we talked about, because I was mesmerized by her beauty (this kind of stuff still happens today, if I am talking to you and lose my train of thought, it's because you are beautiful). Soon we finished out meal, got made fun of my Gary Don, and headed off to the rest of our date.

When we got back to my house we plopped down on the couch and watched Ghostbusters. Mom brought us some popcorn and kool-aid and we enjoyed the movie (and my annoying little brother). Soon after the movie ended boredom set in. She suggested we play a game called, "who has the boneist butt." Now, this was an innocent game, where one person sat on the other's lap and the wiggled their butt into the other's legs. Whoever could stand it the least, was the looser and the other person was deemed boneist butt. Now looking back, this game could be taken out of context. This purely was innocent, I swear. I went first and she timed me. Then I went. I knew I liked this girl, so I let her win. I mean come on...isn't that what you're supposed to do?

On the ride home I remember talking about her hairy legs. I was fascinated, because I had no hair on my legs (I still don't have hairy legs). She told me that her mom wouldn't let her shave her legs until she was older (I had no clue women shaved their legs at this point). We made it to her house and I walked her to her door. I was (and still am) a big gentleman, I gave her a big hug (I don't kiss on the first date, gotta keep them wanting more, duh) and said good night. It was an amazing day with the girl of my dreams; dinner, movie, games, and a goodnight hug.

It still makes for a great date these days. Good pizza, great classic movie, conversation, and a goodnight hug. It's strange how constant some things stay in life.

Third Grade pt 1 - Life Lesson Sharing Time

I have lots of fond memories of the third grade. I started showing hogs in 4H, I had a sweet perm on the back half of my hair, and I went on my first date. I remember recess was split on two different playgrounds during the third grade. In the morning we went to the east side of the grade school in the parking lot (more or less) and in the afternoon we went to the actual playground with grass!

I developed my first real serious crush in the third grade. This girl would have a major influence on the physical attributes of all women who would follow her. It may seem strange, and it is a little weird to write about, but she is one of four or five women who have influenced relationship decisions for my entire life. I can still remember her phone number from grade school and her birthday. She moved away after the fourth grade, but I still after all these years later remember her. Some may think that is sad or pathetic, to me it has allowed me the introspection to understand my development, especially as it relates to my relationships with the opposite gender.

Her name was Annie. She was tall, long dark hair, slender build (weren't we all back then?) dark complected, and a smile that would stop me in my tracks (actually make me a bumbling idiot). She was sweet, nice, smart, and interesting. However, she was clumsy, ungraceful, and awkward (again, weren't we all at this age?).

This particular story is about sharing time with a friend of mine. We shared the girl we both coveted. I "went out" with her during morning recess and he "went out" with her during afternoon recess. This arrangement was agreed upon by all three parties, however my friend Jackson and I weren't real keen on the arrangement. We did go along with it, cause let's face it, she made a great argument for why it was necessary (girls are smarter than boys, we all know this, and she was sneaky smart). We used to cheat in class (sorry teach). I would share my math work and she would share spelling. I did throw a spelling bee one time so she could win. Chivalry, I know.

Anyways, one afternoon, after I had my time in the morning, she and Jackson were enjoying the day. A large group decided to play a game of Red Rover. I know you remember Red Rover, Red Rover, let Delton come over. If not, we should play sometime, it's great fun! So, as it was, I had my pack of friends and Jackson had his. We lined up across from each other, and who should be invite over...Annie. And where did she choose to charge...at me of course. Now she didn't break through so as is customary in the game, you must latch arms with the person who blocked you. So, here are Annie and I holding hands during afternoon recess, I was on borrowed time.

As the game went along, Annie was retrieved back from the other side and then I was called over. I went right between Jackson and Annie. This time, I had no intention of breaking through. I wanted to be in between them. So was my strategy, and of course it paid off. I was holding hands with Annie and Jackson. He was furious. I was enjoying every minute, until...Jackson started squeezing my hand so hard I thought my fingers were going to shoot out of my hand. I knew I had to get out of this situation and soon let someone break through to take me back to my side.

I don't remember who won the game, but I do know that after the epic battle, Annie was mine for both recesses. I had won, and it felt good.

Second Grade - Life Lesson Attitude is Sexy

Second grade was a huge jump for me socially. I thoroughly enjoyed it and loathed it at the same time. This was a tumultuous time on the play ground for me. I of course chased the girls, until they would pack up and then chase me. I would have a gaggle of girls chasing me by the end of recess. I remember the leader of the pack, Mindy. She was a cute girl with some attitude. Actually, she still has that same attitude, which is and has been a sexy trait that I have been attracted to.

So as recess would go, I would usually spend the first half chasing the girls, playing on the monkey bars, and maybe swinging for a bit. This day is clear in my mind like it happened yesterday. I recall this all the time and brings a great big smile to my face. I had upset the balance and the girls decided they would gang up on me. Mindy was the leader of the pack and they had cornered me between them and the brand new slide. I told them they had better stop, or I was going to do something drastic. This of course didn't stop them. I told them, don't take another step, or it would be bad news. They called my bluff. I picked up a patch of dried concrete next to the new slide and said..."If you take one more step, Mindy gets it." She took one step forward, and I threw the rock on her toes. Sure did, true story! She of course was angry. She went and told our teacher, who had it out for me. I still remember though. I got a talking to, no paddle, not even the principal. I am sure, I weaseled my way out of it. I did have a reputation of telling the truth.

Another story I like to tell about second grade, is going to the restroom. First of all, we had restrooms in our classroom. We actually shared with the class next door. I remember there were two toilets in these restrooms, and they faced each other. So you always had a pooping partner. We were in the second grade and never thought much about it. I remember my pooping partner one time was a girl name Jessie. I have no clue how we ended up in the bathroom together. If we snuck in or if we were assigned. I really haven't a clue. I do know, I had a super crush on Jessie. I flirted with her a lot, and I used my superior intellect show off in class. I don't think she realized it was all for her, but it was.

Back to Mindy. I had a huge crush on her, but she was always mean to me. I am sure it had something to do with throwing the rock on her foot. I also shoved her off of my well house at my 8th birthday party. She wouldn't jump. What was I gonna do. I broke her Jellies. Not sure if you remember these shoes, but they were the bomb dot com back in the day. She didn't speak to me for a while, but we are still good friends today.

I will say, I suppose I always had a super crush on her. I love the way she carries herself and the fact that she could beat me up. It was her confidence and attitude that was so sexy. I never realized that until recently. I didn't get it in second grade. I get it now. Confidence is a smokin' hot trait.

First Grade - Life Lesson Say the Right Thing

Let me tell you something about first grade. I thoroughly enjoyed class, being in school all day and flirting. I was a ham, and spent most of my day chasing girls around the playground (see a theme here?). I remember going to the principal's office several times this year. Nothing was my fault (of course), however I ended up there a lot!

I remember several run-ins with fellow classmates this year. So, I was a bit of a hothead, and it didn't take me long to get angry. I remember my parents always telling me to count to ten as a child, and I would get to about 7 and be spitting made. This one time in reading circle, I was accused of writing in the teacher's book. All the kids in the circle said it was me, and when my teacher asked me why I did it, I told her I didn't. She proceeded to call me a liar. A liar I was not. What happened next is still a shock to me still today (those who remember the mattress story from my Salina days will see some parallels). My teacher looked at me one more time and said, Delton you are a liar. I again professed my innocence, and made a stand. I told her not to call me a liar again (fair warning, I thought). When she rared back a third time with a Delton you are a liar, I saw red and lost it. I took about a third of my pencil and bit the end of it off. I chewed it up and spit it on her, after this, I told her to never call me a liar again. Hello principal's office! It soon became clear that I didn't write in her book, and someone fessed up. I did get a good talking to by my principal and teacher.

The other time I got sent to the office was completely not my fault. You may remember the game "Criss Cross, Applesauce." In this game it was customary to make a criss cross pattern on someone's back and then knee them in the rear end. I was standing in line from chasing the girls, waiting to go back in the classroom, when out of the blue I hear my name. I turn around, and at the right moment one of my classmates, kneed me right in the junk! I started screaming, as only a kid would do, jumping around making a scene. Again, my teacher sent me to the principals office for getting out of line. I did get to see the kid who kneed me take a few swats. I on the other hand just got a firm glare from the end of the paddle that said, young man, I better not see you again this year! He didn't.

So on to the women of my dreams in the first grade. You can see how hansom I was in the photo above (that's right my first grade yearbook picture) so I obviously had a few girls to chase. Being the class clown, I didn't always say the right things to girls, and sometimes that got me in to trouble (don't write a check with your mouth that your ass can't cash). I got my nose pinched by this girl Annalisa and it bled, right there in the middle of class. I am sure I said something mean, but for the life of me can't remember what that was all about.

I chased one girl most of the first grade though. Her name was Rita. She was a joy, heaven to me. She was the daughter of the music minister in town. I would chase her on the playground and write her love notes in class. Silly things like do you like the color red? How about bees? Great conversation starters, maybe I should use these pick up lines today. She eventually moved away, but I never forgot the impression she made on me.

I suppose what I learned most about women from the first grade, was talk nice. I got way farther with do you like the color red? than I ever did with making fun.

Kindergarten - Life Lesson Wait 'Em Out

I was never the boy that thought girls had cooties, in fact as long as I can remember I have been chasing them. This post is a dedication to the love of my kindergarten life.

First you need to know how my classroom was set up. We had about 30 students in class and the desks were set up in fours that faced each other. Each of us in that quad shared supplies and did projects together. The building was just a beautiful tin building, that had been added quickly to meet the demand of the oil boom and the families that came with it.

I had an amazing teacher and assistant. In fact, I loved kindergarten. I remember the cool things like learning to tie my shoes. I remember dressing as the Lone Ranger for Halloween, chasing girls on the play ground (I will admit, it continued until we no longer had recess), and Atari.

There was also a special girl in kindergarten, her name was Jennifer (this isn't her real name, I don't want to share revenues with anyone if I become famous). She had long dark hair and a really cute smile. I was lucky enough to share a desk with her. At first she wouldn't have anything to do with me. She had a thing for the kid that shared the desks with us. It may hard to believe, but I was kind of a class clown, always acting up and saying crazy things. He was more laid back and chill, a mystery. I can see why the girls chased him.

After the kid she was chasing broke his arm and he started getting lots of attention from everyone in class, especially girls (why do women dig broken body parts on dudes?) she moved on, and that was my luck! If you can't be first choice, second ain't bad. I guess that is where I learned to wait 'em out.

I remember holding hands on the play ground; the long strolls during play time. I remember making a special Valentine's Day card with all the love in my heart. Ah, the short lived love of kindergarten. I don't quite remember how long this little fling (can you call it that in kindergarten?) lasted (probably a couple months in the spring), but it is one that I can still recall and it does bring a smile to my face.

Jennifer - Thanks for being my first love.

How I got here!

There are some things I had to dig up about myself in order to answer a this question. My birth is something that my family never really talked about. I knew what date I was born, what time, and where, however I never knew the whole story for the longest time. I was born in the Sayre Memorial Hospital, at 11:25pm on Friday, September 8, to Diana and Phil Gordon. I was their first. I was born 5 weeks and 4 days early. I did not have hair, finger nails, eye lashes, or eye brows. I also happened to be born at shift change, lucky me. One funny thing about my birth, is my father getting to town for my arrival. He was working in a field, plowing. The man he worked for came running to the field to tell him he had better get to town. With this my father panicked and was a nervous wreck all the way to town. After he got to the hospital, he was okay. Him and my Tata (Grandfather Chris) were in the break room drinking coffee, when I was born, all that rushing just to drink coffee. It was amusing how I received my name, my dad, just gave it to me, and my mother was slightly unhappy for awhile, but I think she got over it.

I don’t recall much from this era of my life. I do remember a few stories that my family likes to tell. I was a curious little child that liked to wander. One time when I was about 2 or 3, I was on the front porch with my mom and dad, and I ate a moth. My mother was sickened, my father was worried, but I turned out fine, I suppose. Another story my mother likes to tell is that I was always the good child and my brother was the cantankerous child. I guess what I mean is I was more content and he more obnoxious. My brother had three people in the entire family that he would go to without screaming, my Granddad Don, my Uncle Delton (JR), and my mom. This posed a problem when my parents wanted to take a break, he would not let my mom out of his sight. My mother did not work while I was younger. She thought it was her duty to stay home and tend to the family. I think this is why my brother and I have a good personality and overall a good perception of who we are.

Stick with me for a few weeks as we go down memory lane. Next up...All my Ex's!

Blog Redesign

So I'm starting out on a new journey and I am going to start sharing it with the world. I don't want to give too much away at this point, but there will be a new perspective to my blog. I am trying to decide if I will keep this one or start a new one. It's not that I had lots of traffic on here.

So, to my loyal fans...what should I do? New blog or redesign this one?