Thursday, January 12, 2006

My 5

The first place I read the Five Random Facts was at Julia's blog. I followed it from there and got to read a lot of great blogs along the way. And, I got to learn a lot of things about people that I didn't know before. I was beginning to think I was going to be left out of the tag-fest, but alas, I have been tagged by Sandra. The basic principle is that you write five random facts about yourself, just for the pure fun of it. So , here it goes.

Random fact #1: I got pregnant when I was 16. I was with a guy that I thought I loved. (What was I thinking?) We had been dating for a while and he had been bothering me about it for a while, so one night, I gave in. We were at a friend's party. I wasn't supposed to be there. It was unchaperoned and my parents forbid me to go. I told them we were going bowling instead. They trusted me enough to believe me. Well, the trust ended that night, needless to say. Right after I "did it", I told him that was it. I wouldn't do it anymore. I was afraid of getting pregnant. Well, too late. That's right, my friends, I got pregnant and lost my virginity all in the same night. How lucky can one girl get? I went to a private school, where if anyone had ever gotten pregnant before, they quit school or "took care of it" privately. Neither of which I believed was an option for me. So, I had to literally fight the school board to continue to go to school there. (Now, keep in mind, that the jerk who got me pregnant also went to this school and he didn't have to go in front of the school board. Basically, because he had a penis and so did everyone else on the school board.) So, by a vote of 4 to 3, I got to stay in school there. I went on to graduate with honors and a full scholarship to college. After graduation I started college. I still lived at home so I could be near Holden, so I commuted 2 hours every day. I also worked at a grocery store. Anyway, I graduated from nursing school with a Bachelor of Science degree. It was some of the hardest years of my life. I wouldn't change any of it. It made me a stronger person, and I got Holden out of it.

Random fact #2: ( I will try to keep this one a little shorter). My favorite band is Aerosmith. I have loved them since 7th grade. Their "Permanent Vacation" album came out that year and I fell in love with them. I have been to 5 of their concerts. At one I was on the front row for a little while. For those of you who don't know me, I'm a fairly calm person and I don't tend to make a big deal of things nor do I tend to attract attention to myself. Well, have you ever seen the footage of the girls in the 60s screaming and crying when they were seeing The Beatles? Well, that was so me. I was screaming and crying. I don't know what came over me. It was like I was possessed. Did I mention I was only 6 feet from Steven Tyler?

Random fact #3: I don't drink alcohol. Yep, I am what some call a "T-totaler". I just don't like the taste and I don't like how it makes most people act. I find drunk people to be among the most obnoxious people in the world.

Random fact #4: I once attended Mardi Gra in New Orleans. Yeah, did you see fact #3? I was surrounded by drunk people 24/7 and I was miserable. I even came home early. I saw enough boobs and penises (is that the plural of penis or should it be peni?) to last me a lifetime. Not to mention, the horrible smell of vomit and urine that emanated from bourbon street. Lovely, really. I don't know why I let my best friend talk me into it, but I did.

Random fact #5: My husband is 7 1/2 years younger than me. I met him when he was 16 and we've been together since. I know, shocking. It's still shocking to me sometimes. I can't believe I did that, but I did and I'm so glad. He is one of the best things that ever happened to me. We've been together for almost 9 years and will have been married 6 years in March.


OK, that's it. I hope I haven't bored you. I really don't know anyone who hasn't been tagged, so I won't tag anyone. If however, you are reading this and haven't been tagged but would like to be, then consider yourself tagged and go for it.

7 comments:

prayergal said...

WOW ~ Penny!
I remember that sweet little 16 year old girl. Aunt Linda couldn't believe what happened to you but God works all things to the good of those that love Christ. I know you love the LORD and I know that you wouldn't change anything because it all has worked out for good. You have Holden, Michael and Riley and I know you are thankful for them. God is good!
Aunt Linda

Anonymous said...

I love Aerosmith, too, but Joe Perry is my man. I've had a crush on him for as long as I can remember, even in the horrible drug years. Sadly, I've never seen them live.

Keith said...

As a former 16yo boy, let me say that being a good husband and father is, unfortunately, not up high on the priority list, even for those who profess Christ. I admire you for making the tough choices and following through with them. I know that words cannot express the agony you must have gone through during that time even though you got a beautiful baby out of the situation.

I too like Aerosmith. I quite listening to them for awhile because of the line in Sweet Emotion, 'You can't catch me 'cause the rabbit done died', just because of your fact #1. Even though I don't have any girls, I have alot of sympathy for their plight.

I went to nursing school for awhile (I'm currently taking a sabatical) and my hat is off to you. It's tough! Way to go girl!!!

Penny Ratzlaff said...

Keith, all of us, Christian or not, make poor decisions. It's what you learn from your poor decisions that really show what kind of person you are.

I wish you luck with nursing school. It is , by far, one of the hardest things I've ever done. Nursing school is brutal. I'm glad I did it though. I think I was just meant to be a nurse, even though I have a secret fantasy of being a pharmacist. I also have a secret fantasy of becoming a millionaire, but that's probably not going to happen either.

Sandra Miller said...

Wonderful random five!

Your strength in the face of such difficult circumstances at a very young age is truly inspiring.

Thank you so much for sharing.

Shannon said...

Well Penny, you are now my hero. With everything you went through in your youth and how you handled it all is so admirable.

Kerri. said...

Thank you for sharing yourself, one fact at a time.

It's always a pleasure to come by and read here. Thank you for that, too.