Counting Measurements

24 hours of labor

Me slipping into a new world

Accompanied by tears of joy from those who welcomed me.

1 hour-long playdates with the neighbor’s daughter

Filled with hand claps, sippy cups, and plenty of firsts

First steps, first words, first semblances of friendship.

2 tied shoelaces adorned my hot pink light-up tennis shoes.

No velcro, not for a four-year-old.

2 bunny ears wrapped over each other in a way that let me pull to make a bow

But only if I did it just right.

1 first crush on a boy named Max was most of first grade.

He thought I had cooties.

I tried to assure him that I didn’t

And even if I did they weren’t contagious.

I failed.

8 peanut butter & ritz cracker sandwiches

A staple in my lunch I brought from home but

They tasted better if I separated them.

I always ate them in the cafeteria

At the middle, brown, circular table in the second room but

No boys allowed. They sat at their own table.

I always drank apple juice to wash lunch down.

1 super secret silly seven-year-old sleepover

My first. Filled with frills and pinks and whispers.

Secrets were shared and we made a

Valiant attempt to stay awake to see the sunrise but

My mom says we were all sound asleep by 1:30.

2/3 cup of juice with 1/3 water

The proper ratio for any sugary drink until 10 but

That was only according to my mom.

I was too old to have to water down my juice.

I loved sleepovers, none of my friends watered down their juice.

4 roller skating units, 1 every winter

A privilege only middle schoolers enjoyed.

Coach Fink let us choose which songs he played from his iPod.

Pretty Boy Swag was our roller skating anthem.

1 8th grade trip to D.C.

A blur of independence, nostalgia, and excitement all

Over the backdrop of museums and monuments.

A final week together to seal the bonds we’d spent

Years sewing together with laughter, recess, field trips.

1 clean mint green backpack

Purchased the day before high school began.

2 sports

4 retreats

2 years driving

1 trip to Barcelona

Many, many girls nights

2 jugs

And countless times at Luke’s house later

Here we are. It happened faster than

I would have thought.

It is now spring

43 days until graduation.

1 summer left before leaving home

Then there will be new things to measure.

Jordan Smith