I'm a recovering nerd.

You know how sometimes you hear a gorgeous celebrity talk about how they were nerdy as a teenager, and you think, "Yeah, right. 'Nerdy' to you probably meant one zit on the top of your nose that didn't stop you from being prom queen."

Well, I'm certainly not a celebrity, and you can trust me when I tell you I am a genuine, recovering nerd.

Fellow blogger Lindsay's post on her love of reading brought me back to junior high. One day I heard someone talking about nerdy kids, the type who read books as they walk down the school's hallway. And suddenly I realized, no matter how good that book is, people think I'm a nerd because I can't put it down as I walk between social studies and math. The scary part is, I honestly didn't realize that was a geeky thing to do. So I stopped...unless the book was really good. Then I occasionally peeked at it as I strolled to my next class.

Fast forward to college. College, folks. I mean, my junior year. Of college. A friend had to inform me that, no, white socks should not be worn with black shoes. With shorts. Oops. (And it was a guy. That I had a crush on. Gah!)

Convincing you yet? Or should I tell stories about...

• getting lost repeatedly in the hallways of my high school?
• writing notes back and forth--in poetry format--to a friend in my chemistry class?
• checking out books from the library about Star Trek: The Next Generation and devouring them excitedly (and thinking that was cool)?
  

Thankfully nerdiness is far more acceptable when you grow up and the ability to think is suddenly valued. That makes me feel comfortable holding onto some of my geeky past. So when I engage you in a one-sided conversation about the merits of Battlestar Galactica (the new series, not the old one, and the best television show ever), just nod, smile, and be glad I'm not wearing white socks with black shoes.