Always Be My Bay-Bay.

My favorite dating story to tell was when I was in 5th grade at Armstrong Academy in Tucson, Arizona. At the time, I had alot of crushes on boys in my class or boys who I was "determined to date/marry" (Jonathon Taylor Thomas) but I never had a boy that I can remember who really "liked" me until Oli.

From what I was told back in 5th grade, Oliver had stayed home sick one day from school and phoned into a controversial/edgy rock station to find out "How to ask out the cute girl at his school." The radio show "THE HOG," could be compared to Howard Stern's show and frequently discussed the taboo, touching on vulger and scandalous topics. Oliver's request struck a cord with these "Bad boy DJ's" and that's when Oliver's troubles began.

The DJ's decided to call Armstrong Academy requesting that Stephanie Sherwood come to the phone because they had a caller on the air who wanted to ask her a question. The secretary hearing that two grown men were calling for a fifth grade student during class hours refused the phone call and notified our Principal. They proceeded to call my home, speak to my Grandmother "Birdie" who simply explained "Stephanie can't come to the phone right now, she's at school."

The DJ's had offered a magical first date for myself and Oli. We were to be picked up by limo, shuttled to dinner and a movie of our choice and then Oli was to report back to the DJ's "about how the date went." Trouble was, my principal heard all of this and immediately got on the air requesting that the radio footage be removed from the taping and for Oliver to publicly apologize for putting myself, my family and the school "in danger."

They agreed apon me being called into the principal's office with Oliver so he could explain what he did and formally apologize to me. I was called into the principals office... 50 lbs of little Steph Sherwood with braces and overalls panicing over what I could have done to be in such a terrible predictament. "THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE? Ohhhh man, mom and dad are going to be soooo mad."

I sat down across from this tall and handsome 6th grade boy who was easily three feet taller than me. His head was down, his knees glued together in his short 90's style shorts and graphic tshirt; fingers tightly crossed. Immediately, Principal Armstrong said "Stephanie, this boy has an apology for you." He told me nervously without eye contact that he had called the radio station to figure out how to ask me to be his girlfriend and that it "got out of hand" and he was so very sorry. Restraining every bit of adoration I had for this poor guy's attempt to take me on what sounded like a really fun first date I accepted his apology AND to my principal's surprise...his request to be my boyfriend.

Oliver and I "were together" for that school year until we split to go to different middle school's. I used to sing in the car with mom to Mariah Carrey, "You'll always be my Bay-bay," thinking of my time with Oli and reminiscing about the year at Armstrong. I was the only one in 5th grade who had a "serious boyfriend" and felt maybe it was too soon to go "long distance" at different schools. My mother cried...no, she SOBBED when I broke up with Oli and for a minute... for weeks, months, years... I thought that she might never forgive me for "ending it."

Now Oliver is a successful photographer in New York shooting all over the world and appearing at every music and arts festival. He's full of life, spunk and one of the greatest people I know. Who knew I would have had it so good had my middle school priorities not been "so twisted."

 

:)

Xo - Steph