Adventures on Leppin Farm : 04/18/12

I am not sure if any of you are aware of the fact that

Guy and I have known each other for many, many moons.

Guy lived around the corner from me when we were in Junior high and Freshman

in high school. One of my first memories of Guy was playing with his chemistry

set at his house one day after school. We shared a science class, if I recall and he

had mentioned to me he had received the set as a Christmas or birthday gift.

I can't remember if we walked or rode the bus home together that day but

I remember clearly thinking "This is nothing I would norrmaly do and not with

anyone I would normally do it with" but I do recall we had a lot of fun.

Guy and I always got along but we ran in different circles.

He was the kid in the class that was always listening in on my conversations with a

big goofy grin on his face. (He still gets that same look and it is one of my favorite things about him.) But imagine being in the 7th grade, sitting there with a few of your friends laughing

and telling stories and suddenly feel a creeper… you look around the room, and there is Guy.

Leaning in, mouth open with a half grin on his face and eyebrows high… I would stop, slowly, all the

heads turn and look at Guy. I would just laugh…never mean. Some friends would smirk at him.

But he was always nice to me and vice versa! Besides that, his baby sister Jessica Dockins was always at our house or my little brothers were at hers. And she had the same look… except she would sit under our kitchen table and just observe our household. Which was pure entertainment alone! She would sit there and take it all in with a goofy smile on her face like she was experiencing something she wasn't suppose to be experiencing...ha ha ha! We always had a FULL house of people coming and going of all ages and sizes. Arguments, pranks, conversations…Jessica had a front row seat to it all. (Sorry Grace…if she had any bad habits, blame my mother…It wasn’t me!)

Any whooo back to the CHEMISTRY…

oh la la!

So, when Guy and I were done making our chemistry together and it was time to go home,

his shiny new test tubes and vials, that had been full of this and that, were now

nearly emptied and coated with gunk running down their sides. I expressed my concern

that he might get into trouble for having ruined, what I thought, was a gift that should have

been taken care of better. I remember him shrugging his shoulders, like it was no big deal.

His only comment was, "Well, we had fun!"

We did have fun. I remember it like it was yesterday. I never told my friends about that afternoon

nor did I ever. Especially when my best friend of all time told me later that year that she was in love with Guy Leppin.

I remember turning to her and saying "WHAT?? Guy LeppiNN??" (This is important that you put the emphasis on the N! ) Lucky's response…"yeah, he is funny and he is kinda cute. Don't you think?"... I said nothing and just shrugged my shoulders. I really couldn't say anything. He was funny…in a goofy kind of way. And he was kinda cute, if you liked shorties. (He was shorter than I was back then) By the time we hit high school I was a cheerleader and he was in 4H or FFA or the CIA, I can't remember… and he was just the kid around the corner I use to play with but now we were worlds apart. He moved to California that year and I had not seen him for almost 25 years.

So, let's fast forward to New Years Eve 2010- I did not plan on going out to celebrate, nor did I want to go to the bar. But for some reason, that is just where I ended up. And I am so glad I did! Guy was there with his little sister. Except this time she was NOT hanging out under the table gawking at everyone, she was out on the dance floor with her older, now much TALLER and good looking brother. I said to myself…"WHHAT?? Guy LeppiNN???? - I am in trouble!"

Ten days later he bought me a Chemistry set for my birthday hoping we could spark some old memories.

Guy and I were discussing the other day that perhaps we somehow cooked up a 25 year love potion that day after school at his house, that would not reach its' potency until Dec. 31, 2010. I would not doubt it.

Aaaaand we have work to do…so good bye! Ha!