"Johnny Met June" Shelby Lynne

I forgot about this song. It popped in my head as I was sitting down to write. Since the last confession was high school, I thought I would linger in the early years a bit more. Also, this one was not someone I dated, but we became close friends during a time when both of us were at a transitional part of our lives. I'm trying to find the perfect name for him. He has the perfect name, but I can't write it here to protect him. Plus, it's quite a story, so grab a beer and pull up a chair.

I'll call him.. THE POET

The POET was a few years younger than me in high school. He and his family lived just around the corner from me and we went to the same pool. I wouldn't call Poet a childhood friend, just someone I saw around a lot.

I had just graduated from college and was back at home, interviewing for teaching positions. I managed to land a lifegarding gig back at the pool I used to swim for and Poet was also a guard there. He left college after two years to help out his parents when a law suit took the bookstore his dad owned from the family, leaving them no income. Fun Fact: It was an ADULT bookstore.

Poet and a few other friends would get together nights light candles, read poetry, play music and drink wine. U2's Achtung Baby was in rotation, as well as the soundtrack from The Princess Bride ( Poet looked just like Cary Elwes, btw) and we would often go out and terrorize our Stupid Conservitive Republican Law Abiding town.

Poet never wore shoes--not even in winter. He would show up at my house snow on the ground- no shoes. Poet was always up for an adventure, and to escape our limbo lives. We would run on golf courses in the middle of the night while the sprinklers were going, in winter, we would strip down to nothing and make naked snow angels in the yard (That was fun explaining to mom). We took long drives to find urban legends like the Haunted Bridge Queen Blaring on the tape deck. None of us were afraid of being naked. And nothing ever came from it-- we just were all just a bunch of drunk, naked 20 somethings living out best lives.

Poet loved to go to used bookstores and buy me books of poetry and inscribe them using an old inkwell and metal ink pen-- the ink would smear everywhere. I think he was the most romantic person I have ever met. Chivalrous to a fault.

August came and the position was offered to return to my college town. He decided to go into the Air Force and moved to Utah. We got on with our lives and lost touch, as people do, until..

In 2012, mom called me and told me Poet was going to prison for 40 years for attempted murder. Poet became a laywer and was always fighting for good people. He attacked the man (legislator) who contributed to his parent's bookstore loss so many years ago. He died in 2020 in prison.

Godspeed, my sweet, romantic Poet.