I Knew Her Back When...

Disclaimer: if you didn't go to high school with me, most of this will be lost on you. Just know that these are good memories commemorating a good friend's birthday.

When I was 15 years old, I sat down at a lunch table with a spunky, goofy, carefree blond named Colleen. Ridiculous lunchtime conversation topics swirled around the table; among them, such items as Doug the Bug, the weekend goings-on, and the starlet's latest part in the school play. Later that year, Colleen and I could be spotted scrambling through the halls during our 5-minute passing period, Skittles scattering down the hallway on our mad dash from the vending machine and into the clutches of our sixth period religion teacher - that same teacher who always seemed to turn a blind eye to the notes being passed between her two "kunagundas" (roughly translated as "precious ones"). Our tall friend Mike started calling us the Blond Bombshells...which is hilarious looking back on it. It can be argued that we were, in fact, budding bombshells, but I think the more appropriate designation back then may have been "holy terrors." Colleen and I buddied up and joined the "Senior Experimentals" - ladies and gentlemen, my first acting experience ever was in a play starring a "boy band" and Colleen, who played a Mandy Moore type character. If I remember correctly, I was just a groupie who wore silver reptile-print pleather pants and swooned when a member of the boy band walked by (*gag*). That was the last time I ever acted, but Colleen never quit. Thank God.


And one day, when she's all grown up and living a flashy life in Hollywood and gets discovered by some huge director for her stunning looks, seriously convincing acting, and phenomenal voice OR is sharing her passion for acting and English with some very lucky students, I can smile and say, "Yeah, well, I knew her back when. And she's still a great friend."

So to a girl who completes our circle of friends, loves Twix and rock and roll, gives life her all, and can identify exactly what was happening and what everyone was wearing on any given date in the history of her 26 - er, 23? - years, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Miss you tons - can't wait to see you soon!

And for good measure, here's a shot of the 4 of us...my girls from "back when." See you in June!