Post by brownjb81 on Sept 4, 2012 13:39:24 GMT -5
I spent this past weekend listening to the American Top 40 show from September 4, 1982 and Chicago had a hit on the countdown,"Hard To Say I'm Sorry", and while I was listening to the song, it reminded me of a similar situation that I have been in during my past. Over the weekend, I wrote a letter to a former classmate of mine from Junior high and High School whom I haven't seen in almost 25 years. There was a girl named Patti who was a classmate of mine during our junior high and high school years who I had a crush on. I never really talked to her because I was very shy. When we were in our sophomore years in high school, Patti moved away. I later found out that her parents got divorced and she had transferred to another school. I did see her 3 times during her visits to my high school during that sophomore year but after that, I never saw her again. In 1990, I made an attempt to get in contact with her. I remember what year it was because it happened shortly after I graduated from high school. I was determined and obsessed to get in contact with her, in fact, I got member of her family involved. I got in contact with her dad and I mentioned to her that I was attempting to get in contact with her. He later gave me her mom's phone number and then I called her and told her that I was planning to get in contact with her, but we got into an argument and she told me not to come over to her house but against her wishes, I went over there anyway. While I was over at Patti's mom's house, I told her that I was trying to get in contact with her. Patti was attending a school in California, so I gave her mom my phone number, so she could call me whenever she was home from school. Then later that day, I got home from work and my parents told me that one of Patti's parents had called the house. I don't remember who called because I wasn't home at the time. When my parents found out about the situation, they were very upset with me. They were more upset that Patti is white and I am African-American. The thing that hurt me the most was that my parents got involved. I was told that if were to contact Patti again, then her parents would have me arrested. So, that ended my attempt on getting in contact with Patti. Although I have moved on with my life, this thing had haunted me for the last 22 years. Then in the past 3 years, I have reunited with many former classmates and friends on Facebook, whom I hadn't seen or heard from in years. Patti hasn't been listed on Facebook during the 3 years that I have been on there. Then just last week, I tried to look for Patti on Facebook again but she wasn't listed on there but through Facebook, I found her name on another website. I found her information on a website called, www.usidentify.com and on that website, I found her address and phone number. Over the weekend, I wrote her a letter and told her my side of the story and my reasons for getting in contact with her. I also apologized to her for my behavior back in 1990 and I told her that I also want to apologize to her family for putting them through this sitatuion. I mailed the letter last Saturday. She only lives about 17 miles from me, so she should receive my letter sometime this week. I really hope that she accepts my apology. Whether or not she does, at least I do know that writing this letter has given me some closure on this situation and I feel that in some way, I have closed an interesting chapter of my life. As I am typing this out, it feels that I am requesting a long distance dedication. The lyrics of that song, "Hard To Say I'm Sorry", feel a bit similar to this message.
