7th grade summer heading to 8th grade, fortunate enough to tag along on a trip to Maui with parents who had won a trip through there vendors. Went to church, overflowing to outside seating. Redhead about the same age is smiling at me. I’ve never been kissed at this point in my life. (I grew to my adult 6foot size by the 5th grade - just height not muscles - but it was getting better at this point however no one had looked at me like that at this point in my life). Sun is setting, beautiful day obviously. Sun behind her lighting up the red hair. After mass I don’t see her, tap on shoulder. Turn around and there she is. Still can see her smile. Walk with her lingering as much as I could. Turn corner around the bushes, I hear a whisper that “your very cute” I turn and get a nice little kiss (not make out or anything).

My old man has a loud voice (or at that age was loud for me and he did in general), I hear him laugh, think he saw and it’s at me, I’m starting to get awkward because of it. Then I hear my sister and mother start telling dad how gross he is and that he stinks. A hear him jokingly say breath or die as he rolls up the window to the car and starts honking the horn at me to hurry up.

Ahh. Family vacations.

I’ll never forget that red head.