first times

The first time I rode a bike without training wheels, I lost control and rammed it into a car parked on the side of the street. I managed to leap off before impact and land unscathed upon my feet. The first time I fell in love, he broke my heart. I managed to end things without ever looking back. The first time I saw a porno, I hid my eyes behind my cupped palms. I managed to see enough to know pornos were indeed naughty. The first time I lived in London I fell in love with tall buildings and crowded trains. I managed to find myself in the midst of all the chaos. The first time I kissed a boy, I thought I was going to suffocate. I managed to hold my breath until finally pushing him away before I passed out. The first time I swam in the ocean, I saw pilot whales cresting over the waves. I managed to ignore the woman screaming 'sharks' on the beach and enjoy their elegant proximity. The first time I went to a dance club, I managed to arrive during a male strip tease put on solely for 'ladies night'. I managed to exit the venue before the banana hammock clad dancer made it to my table. The first time I feared for my life, I was walking home from school. I managed to escape with minor bruises and a few missing strands of hair. The first time I met a dirty old man older than most human beings, I was walking to an Anthro lecture. I managed to evade the elderly gentleman once he started spewing numbers relating to the inches of his allegedly enormous cock. The first time I saw horrors beyond words, I cried and wondered how human beings could hack off the head of a helpless child. I managed to reaffirm my belief that God lives in our hearts and minds and not upon this earth. The first time I found religion, I was only four. I managed to lose it several times afterward, only to find it once more in a somewhat altered but recognizable state. The first time I ran a 10K, my feet cramped up in muscle spasms from my Nike's. I managed to complete the race barefoot, sloshing in the rain, and enjoyed the freedom of naked feet upon the black pavement.