Wishing, Waiting, Hoping

At my age you aren't afforded a lot of opportunities for first-time experiences. It’s one thing for someone to try and describe it to you or assuage any fears you may have, but nothing really compares to experiencing it for yourself. I’m of course talking about the hurricane. My first one!!!!

As it quickly approaches the East Coast, I’ve been mildly obsessed with watching the weather reports and feeding into the hype. The only thing that has been this predictable in my life is probably waiting to get my first period. Girls twelve years and up start getting prepped for the fact that a “big change” is coming. Much like the hurricane, it is important to remain calm, be informed and get prepared.

Unfortunately I got my period before Wikipedia existed, err or internet for that matter. But I’m sure if it had been around, I would have looked up “menstruation” and been just as confused as when I look up “tropical cyclone” and “storm surge.” The words individually make sense, but strung together...I’m at a loss.

As part of Sex Ed. all the girls were given female gift packs that consisted of maxi pads, tampons, deodorant and sugar-less candy. All important items to have when puberty hits. I sincerely hope the sugar-less candy was not some passive way to acclimate girls to the biggest conflict of their lives: attempting to eat whatever they want but feeling immense guilt due to societal perceptions of beauty and thus resorting to consumption of disgusting semi-satisfying sweets.

They don’t give out hurricane packs to first timers, actually even trying to buy a flashlight in Manhattan was futile. I went to the grocery store and they were sold out of M&M Pretzels, that’s when I knew we were on the verge of a crisis.

In anticipation for Irene I’ll be looking out the window every few hours, eager for its arrival, much like checking my underwear for the first drop when I was a tween.