First Loves

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Thanks for stopping by on Alex J. Cavenaugh's First Loves Blogfest where we're posting our first love in movies, music, books, and people.

First Movie
In 10th grade all the cool kids were invited to Dana Micheal's party (in my neighborhood). While 4 of my good friends were invited, I was not. It was one of those awkward times when you learn about the party by inviting people to go to the new Sandra Bullock movie, While You Were Sleeping, and everyone being busy. Thankfully Emily Pike hadn't been invited either. We went to the movies together and it was SO funny-with a great supporting cast-and romantic and real to my 16-year-old self that I didn't mind I wasn't at the cool drinking party. I still watch it a few times a year and love that Sandra Bullock won MTV's Sexiest Woman of the Year with her out of control hair and baggy sweaters. The scenes that I watch over and over are not when Pullman splits his pants open,  or when she finds Joe Jr. trying on shoes in her closet; but the early morning paperboy scene when he throws the paper so hard he falls off his bike and the family dinner "these mashed potatoes are so creamy."

First Song

Violent Femmes, Blister in the Sun, the theme song for My So Called Life, was the first CD I ever bought. I still love the song and rock out to it any time I hear it, but the CD is long gone as most of the other songs on the CD scared me.

First Book(s)
This is a hard one, I love so many books, so I'm cheating on this one. Favorite baby book? (Babies, by Gyo Fujikawa) says my mom. Early Chapter Book? (Double Trouble by Michael Pellowski) Young MG? Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George is the first book I read repeatedly. I wanted to be Julie, tough, surviving in the wild, strong. The books from my youth that I still read today, the ones that spoke to me, the awkward, "big boned" "crooked-nosed" girl were Robin McKinley's Beauty and Katherine Paterson's Jacob Have I Loved.  The MC's were me, their struggles and lack of confidence with their beautiful sisters, those were my struggles as well. I was tough, better at sports, like Wheeze and her crabbing and Beauty with her horses and farm work. I, like them, grew into myself and found where I fit; these books gave me hope that I could.

First Love
Anthony from my 1st grade class. I had a serious crush on the fastest runner in my class (I was 2nd). I remember vividly our one play date when he came to my house and we sat on the curb, our feet danging over the storm drain, sitting close together, my pale thigh against his chocolate brown one. I still have a thing for sprinters calves.

Getting My Book Taken Away

I was a really good student in 5th grade-smart, but also into sports. I sat in Mr. Perguson's second row. He was the overweight teacher that turned away from the class and sneezed towards the chalkboard to cover up his flatulance.  I never got in trouble until one day during silent reading.  This is the book I was reading:

See them walking on the beach in nightgowns? Does this look risque to you? It sure did to Mr Perguson.  He took my book away and asked me where I have gotten it.

"My mother," I replied.

He harrumphed and told me he'd be keeping it for a while and that he would be calling my mother after school.

As the daughter of a daughter of a high school principle I knew that if I got in trouble at school, I would be in trouble at home. My parents supported our teachers as much as they could. So I sweated it a little, but mainly hoped that my mom would just think it was funny. After all, this was Katherine Paterson, the author of Bridge of Terabithia and The Trumpeter of Krakow. And this one was the Newberry Medal winner in 1981. 

I went home and told me mom what had happened. Better she heard it from me first, right? She did laugh, just like I was hoping. Later that evening she talked to Mr. Perguson on the phone, but she did not share the conversation with me.

The next morning before class started he came to my desk and returned my book saying he had read it the previous night and it was okay for me to read.

No kidding, I thought, my mom is the one who gave it to me.

He didn't question my reading for the rest of the year. The flatulence I'm afraid though, didn't go away. If only I'd been a few rows further back . . .

Have you ever had a book taken away? What book and why?