I was 15, attending a summer camp, that was on for one week. When I first heard about it, I was not very keen to attend. Why, you might ask, well it was a religious camp and I did not feel very comfortable attending any religious events. But a friend of mine convinced me to go, it was a week without parents after all. And what teenager, didn't fantasize about that.
So off I went, accompanied by my eldest sister and a friend, feeling both excited and nervous.
At 15, I was super shy. I was that girl, that you would see sitting on the outskirts, looking in at everyone else enjoying themselves, imagining what it would be like to get involved. Which is something I rarely did, unless someone literally came and took me by the hand.
I always convinced myself, that I was happy to just observe. But on the inside, I wasn't.
So I get to this camp, which had around thirty teenagers attending. The girls were all bunked together in one dorm and the boys in another. All very civilized. There was a service to attend every morning, with singing and group activities in the afternoon. The evenings we were free to read.
Once everyone got settled in, we were called to assemble, before dinner. I remember feeling super nervous, this was the moment that I would come face to face with all the other young people that I would be spending this week with.
I walked into the main hall with my friend, found a seat and then when ever one else was seated, I done a quick scan of the room. So many faces I did not know and then there amongst them all, was the most beautiful boy I had ever seen.
The moment I spotted him, I turned bright red and turned quickly away, worried that he would notice me. My heart was racing. Throughout that first gathering, I kept trying to steal little glances at him. I swear, that he was glowing.
You know I don't have many memories of my childhood or teenage years, but I do remember clearly the first time I laid eyes on him, if that isn't love, then don't know what is.
Afterwards, we got to decide what we wished to get involved in.
I have always loved music, so the singing group really attracted me. Especially when I discovered that "Christy" also wanted to get involved in the music/singing group.
Luckily for me, he was not shy and he had no problems introducing himself to me. He was from Northern Ireland and I also fell in love with his accent. He too loved music and animals and we seemed to have a lot in common.
I had butterflies in my stomach anytime I was around him, he made me feel so good about myself and wow, what a boost to my confidence. That this beautiful boy, chose to be with me.
We hung out a lot during that week and by the time the camp was over, we had already kissed and decided that we would try a long distance relationship. All at the age of 15, I know. (Although he was 2 years older than me.)
I was in tears when it came for us to part ways. But we promised to write to each other and to phone. Which we did for two years and although we really did want to meet up again, we never got the opportunity.
I still have all the letters he send me and when I was last at my family home, I found those letters and re read them all. They we so innocence, him telling me about his day to day life, going from secondary school to College, always ending with him, sending me his love.
Then we entered different stages of our lives and we both moved on. But still, I often find myself wondering what happen to Christy Walker from Co. Down.