When I was in high school, I collected girlfriends like others collected stamps or shells. I showcased my “collection” to anyone who would listen. My insecurities prevented me from being without a girlfriend for any length of time. And my father told me that I should “change girlfriends as often as I changed underwear.” They seemed to make the change before I could take Dad’s advice.

From eighth grade to twelfth, I probably had 20 different girlfriends. I remember each for what they gave to me or the place they held in my puppy love dreams. There was Donna; a sixth grade crush for whom I did my chivalrous best to impress…shared my coat on a chilly evening walk through the woods. It wasn’t until much later that I could, however briefly, call her my girlfriend. Years afterward when she held the title of Dairy Queen, she asked me if I knew who she was…how can you forget your first crush?

I will never forget Sara, though. She was the first girl who liked me at least as much as I liked her. We skated together to REO Speedwagon every Sunday at the Roll Arena. We shared the private joke of how her tiny sneakers would actually fit inside my tennis shoes. Our little four-month relationship held the title of my longest lasting through my entire high school career.

I sometimes feel that John Cougar wrote his song “To MG (Wherever She May Be)” about my relationship with Sara. While the song discusses how little things, like characters in a movie, remind us of people we’ve known…and this could be referring to anyone…Sara is all over this song. “Well I know it wasn’t that big of a love affair,” the song goes. “But boy, it sure seemed like one back then…Ooh your kisses sure tasted sweet, but I guess any kiss tastes sweet at fifteen.”

We’ve all got those stories. And as great as our lives may have turned out, there is still a part deep down that wishes you were fifteen again. No responsibilities and daydreaming of the next time you can see your sweetheart. When reminiscing about those old days, another line from the song comes back. “Hope you didn’t lose that innocent laughter, oh, God I hope time didn’t take that away.”

We all grow up and get jobs. Many of us get married. Lots of us have mortgages, kids and many, many responsibilities. And now “that innocent laughter” comes from my kids. Isn’t it funny how life does come full circle?