How I’m remembered

I was hanging out with a couple of high school friends last night. From my friend’s balcony we were able to take in the fireworks from Canada’s Wonderland. So, we sat out there breathing the fresh air in deeply. Given my current condition with my nasty cough, I was happy that I was smart enough to bring my leather jacket despite it being the middle of summer. Off in the glow of dusk, Venus shone brightly on us and our conversation. As would be the case among people that shared a common high school, we talked about that period in our lives from long ago. The names of various people weaved their way through our words. There was one person that came up and my friend mentioned that that person told her that she remembered me as the guy that had a crush on her.

¿Que?

Simply, that comment caught me off guard. In all honesty, I don’t remember ever having a crush on her. There are a handful of people in high school that caught my eye, and I can truly and honestly say that she’s not in that handful. God, I was annoyed last night. Now, you might be wondering why I seem to be making a bit of a big deal out of this. Sure, right? Having someone think that you have a crush on them isn’t necessarily a bad thing. However, in this case it’s all about context. How am I remembered?

Fine. The person in question is mildly attractive. Easy enough to say that. When we last saw each other, it was just under a decade since high school. If you’ll allow me to be a bit blunt and egotist, I had a lot of things going for me in high school. I was one of those unintentionally high profile people. I may not have been the most popular, and I might have shunned the spotlight, but God damn it, everyone knew me. Out of all the ways that person in question could have remembered me, she chooses to remember me for some non-existent infatuation? What the fuck? Remember me for being smart. Remember me for being affable or warm-hearted. Hell, remember me for getting away with wearing a necktie every single day even though it wasn’t part of the uniform. However, reducing me to every other guy that had goo-goo eyes for you?

Fuck you.

Possibly related posts:

1. Don’t look back
2. Supposed delinquent
3. The necktie rebellion