I was at school, eighth grade. All of the teachers were very blase about it, bunch of 12 and 13 year old girls, it probably happened once a month (heh, no joke intended). In fact, one of the male teachers made a point of saying "ladies, if you tell me that you need to go to the nurse, I will write you a pass with no questions asked"

My mother was a little bit psycho about keeping it secret. I had to hide my tampons and whatnot in my room and taking it to the bathroom was like doing a dead drop with nuclear submarine plans.

which of course, led to the famous "napkin" story.

I was fourteen and beginning to think I found a loophole or something. It was more a "Finally." than a moment.

I think sanguine is the perfect word.

I was only 9 and very much not prepared.

Mine also happened at camp, and for some reason (even though it was...GIRL SCOUT camp) I was mad embarrassed and didn't want to have to make a special trip to the nurse and get supplies and whatnot, and it was all awkward and awful.

Of course, at home, somehow we tried to avoid talking about all these things, and the protocol was to steal products like those and shaving supplies and whatnot from my mother's bathroom, and hope she had some. And hope she'd notice when she was low and go buy more. Perhaps not the best plan.

David, Scott laughed out loud at your E story.

Vortex, I do not know this famous napkin story.

erika, my then BFF was 14. We had the same birthday (my milestone came on my 12th birthday). She was so relieved to be a part of it, and by then, the rest of us were thinking what a pain it was.

-t, heh. Other word nerd.

eta...

sj -- you were 9? Oh you poor little baby.

I was almost 17 and only got it because it was medically induced. Oh, malfunctioning girly parts. How you mocked me.

I was way old, and it was the week before my appointment with a developmental specialist, because I really was that old. I told my mother right quick, so we could get that embarassing thing off my calendar.

My body was very good period-wise to me for the first while, but over the past ten years ago, I have achieved unenviable near-normalcy.

And yet? I'm still thinking it's always sudden.

Yeah. Mine were in reverse order. I was really and truly board flat until my junior year and then bam! sudden boobs from the Boob Fairy.

erika, I was 14 too. By which time everyone around me had long got past the At Last I'm A Woman stage and slid right into bitching about it, so the only real thrill (aside from the commemorative plate) was the confirmation that all my plumbing was relatively normal. Woo hoo?