dona's 365

I guess I was going through a bad-boy stage when I dated Rick. He lived a slum apartment, sold drugs and had been arrested more than once. I don’t remember where we met nor the circumstances of our break-up. That was quite probably the most dangerous time of my young-adulthood.

Tim was “the one that got away”. We had something for three months in London, but didn’t pick it up when we were both back in the States. I thought he found someone better, but recently discovered he went back to an old love. And that makes all the difference.

I called him Johnny Yuma . I don’t know if he was a rebel . He was my boyfriend. We were the same age -- Three or four years old. I don’t know where he lived Did he go wandering When he quit playing with me? Apologies to Johnny Cash -- For this silliness.

John lived next door to my parents when I was in college. We dated for about half a year but he was a chronic liar and a cheat. I’m still annoyed to have wasted seven months and countless tears on him. My brother calls him Elgin’s finest light bulb changer .

I briefly dated Charlie after Marcia and Terry began dating. I was never really serious about him, and dropped him when John asked me out. Marcia said I broke his heart. Not long after, Charlie got married to the girl he dated before me. I took John to the wedding.

I met Jeremy when I was 17. We fell in love and planned on marrying. He lived in England; I lived in the States. I broke it off after 5 years; the distance was too much. We remain in occasional contact though, and both wonder if IM would have helped.

Bob, our 14-year old paperboy was my first “boyfriend”. With him came my first real kiss. We lasted a month, but the fact that he went to a “special school” bothered me and I was embarrassed to be seen with him. He’s one reason I became a special education teacher. Penance?