The First Time

So, my friend and fellow author, Charity Tahmaseb, was part of an anthology released recently. It's a YA about firsts (all kinds of first including, if I'm not mistaken, your first zombie *G*).

You never forget your first...

In THE FIRST TIME, 25 young adult authors contribute 25 stories all about firsts: first loves, first kisses, first zombie slayings, and more. Featuring New York Times bestselling authors Carrie Ryan and Jessica Verday, plus a host of others. From humor to horror, and everything in between, these stories will make you laugh, cry, cheer, (and maybe even scream) as you experience something brand new from the authors that you love.

I have a copy on my Nook, but haven't had a chance to start reading. Still, it got me to thinking about some firsts of my own.

My first "ma'am": Seriously, don't we remember this? For years I was "miss" and then WHAM! suddenly I've aged, and out comes the "ma'am". I was bartending in a family style restaurant (ala Applebees of Chilis) called "Wood'ys Grill and Bar" (yes, that's where they put the apostrophe ... dare to be different). We had a game room with four or five pinball machines and video games and the kids tended to come to the bar for change. One night, a couple teenaged boys came over with their dollars and ... they MA'AM'd me! They did... right there in public. "Excuse me, ma'am, can we get quarters?" I was traumatized for life.

My first car accident: I made the mistake of driving through "the cruise" one Friday night en route to a friend's house. I can't imagine what I was thinking, but it was the quickest way... or maybe "shortest" way is more accurate since the roads were clogged with kids driving around staring at each other. So there I was in the only new vehicle I've ever owned (it was about 6 months old at this time), with my friend Mary (who was drinking a cherry Slurpee -- yes, this figures in), minding my own business in the left turn lane waiting for the light to change. I looked in my rear view mirror and saw this car coming at me and knew she wasn't going to stop. I couldn't go anywhere or do anything but brace myself.

BAM! She hits me. And I hit the car in front of me, and so on and so on. It ended up being a five car accident, during which my bright, shiny new truck was totaled. Mary ended up with cherry Slurpee drenching the front of her (and freaked everyone out because they thought it was blood). The stupid girls left two perfect head prints in the shattered glass of their windshield ("Of course we were wearing our seat belts, officer.") and then said that *I* had hit the car in front of me, bounced back and hit them.

*sigh*

It went to litigation since everyone sued whoever hit them and I wasn't going to take the blame for a sixteen y.o. who was too busy looking at some cute guy to pay attention to traffic.

Since my truck was new, the insurance company pretty much only paid off the loan, and I had nothing for a new car. I ended up with a friend's '77 Toyota Celica (which is the whole reason I met my DH ... another story) and a bad back.

My first job: My senior year in high school I participated in "work experience" since I had all my credits (but Mom wouldn't let me graduate early, which in retrospect was probably good since I was only 16). Senior year was crazy easy for me. I had Yearbook, Drama III, Jazz Choir, and work experience. Tough times.

It was cool, though, because basically the school found jobs for you. You still had to interview, but I got the first one I applied for (and YAY never had to work fast food!). I was a cashier at a restaurant and that's where I learned how to make change in my head, carry four plates of food without dropping them and to ALWAYS ALWAYS pass on the right. To this day, I struggle passing anyone on the left, even if I'm just in a store or on the street.

I loved that job.

I'm still waiting for my first zombie slaying.

What are some firsts you remember?

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You Are Ma'at

You believe in doing what's right. You have the inner strength to stick to your guns. You have a quiet spirituality and balance to you. You don't preach; you lead by example. You are peaceful and serene. You try to make life go as smoothly as possible. You have a reassuring nature. Your friends find you to be both soothing and comforting.

What Egyptian Goddess Are You?

I'm thinking this is about half right.

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