April 29, 1976 was Thursday

And on this night in 1976, I was nervous. Why? 'cause I was about to do something I never did do before. Petrified. Would I be OK? What if I disappointed? What if I just froze in the midst and couldn't continue on?

STOP. Dab the sweat from your forehead...Ain't what you think....!

This night in 1976, was OPENING NIGHT! Yep, for my high school's production of "The Music Man"! And yours truly was in it. Indeedy do! In fact, I was one of the major characters-even tho I had no lines, BUT I did have three costume changes!

In fact, if you're familiar with the play or film, in the scene where ladies are donned in bloomers and practicing being Grecian urns--I was the 'main' urn, where they would 'trickle, trickle, trickle' to! Oh man-I wish there was video of that! I wore glasses, no contacts yet, and our director told me if I could see some, don't wear the glasses. So couldn't make out the audience--yet I could hear the laughter. Oh, it was GRAND!

We had some foibles that night, yet it was opening night and we all were nervous. We got through, as we did for the next two nights of our three night run. Even to this day, I am intoxicated by the roar of the crowd and the smell of the greasepaint from those three night. Honestly, I enjoyed every moment of being part of "The Music Man, " even the rehearsals. The three girl chums of my main posse all were part of the the play, because I of me. One painted the scenery, while the two others were in the pit, feeding the actors' lines if need be.

Yep, nervous this night, cuz I was about to do something I never did do before...

Fast forward to this night in 2010--and I still smile as I look at the playbill from those nights, covered with autographs of classmates aka my fellow 'thespians." :)

Cue up the opening of the 1962 film with Robert Preston and smile too....!

April 10, 1976 was Saturday Night

And on this day in 1976, the word was: par-TAY!

Yep. Back in those NBC's Saturday Night Live Wasn't Quite One Year Old Days, this night was my one and only party-my 18th birthday party to be exact! After all these years, classmates still talk about it. No special entertainment or DJ-nothing of the sort, just sloppy joes, squares of cake with my name written on each one--and oh yea, two kegs of beer: Schlitz and Budweiser.

In those days, the legal was 18. It wasn't until later, Dad admitted he just knew he was headed to jail, since not everybody was 18. Oh and then the beer was gone in 90 minutes, so a collection was taken up for more. Last year, I posted about the day. Click here to take a trip back in time....

Now, to this day in 2010. I'm in the midst of my second whole day of my new age. When I was in my 20's, I thought people this age--were, well---old--and pretty much dead. Since I've made it this far, it's farther from the truth. Anyway, I've had grand day, which included being part of a chum's planning for her annual writers' conference here in Dallas. Come to think about it, it may have been more of the quiche than the planning...

So now I look at my cat filled and quite cluttered house. It does need some attention, especially my kitchen sink. Gotta make sure nothing grows in there. :) After all that, this Saturday night in 2010 ever so pales compared to my own personal Saturday Night Live exactly 34 years ago tonight.

No matter. The memory still makes me smile...

Now while this cat sleeps I'll clean

...maybe..plus Saturday Night Live is new tonight
Better set the DVR, since I may be asleep... :)
Some things change while some things stay the same!

December 26, 1976 was Sunday

No church then, yet the Gospel According to Hangover was! The night before, which had been Christmas, a festive party was held in our hometown. Oh, I didn't throw it, but a couple of older guys did--at our town's Legion Hall. No doubt the Legion Hall, known for the dance instructor who taught there for decades and bingo nights on others, hadn't seen anything like this! I was of legal age to drink, yet not so wise in the all the ways of the world--yet. I partied pretty hard. And kept my Kiss List intact.

So on this Sunday, my 5th Street Friend and I took a drive around town and sat at the park, to catch up what happened to who the night before. To read these diary pages now, I can see "Clueless" was our middle name. Nonetheless, we'd had a good time. Thought we were grown. Eventho this guy I was smoochin' with--you know how parties can be, especially when the Pabst Blue Ribbon overflows. --I called him by the WRONG name. I laughed it off. He didn't.

Like I said: Clueless

As I read on in my diary, I some how got another chum, Taxi, to deliver a gift I'd purchased for the true man of my dreams, IC (which stand for Ice Cream). Not sure how/why that happened. We drive to his house and Taxi goes up to IC's front door--this was about 11pm-to deliver the present. I watch as IC answers the door and in just a few seconds I see him shut the door. Taxi trots back to the car-empty handed. She reported as she gave IC the present, she announced I was pissed (pissed about what, I didn't write down) and IC slammed the door in Taxi's face. At least, he had my present, I rationalized...

And what was said present for the man of my dreams who thought me less of a day dream? A gift set of BRUT. I felt him worthy.

Like I said: Clueless

Let's go back to the party the night before. The band, all classmates of mine, shouted out how this song they were about to serenade us with was dedicated to me! Love IT! :

4th of July 1976 was Sunday

On the USA's 200th Birthday I celebrated my high school graduation, even if it was two months prior. And my hometown--pretty much all of it--helped me celebrate our nation's birthday at our town's park. This was on the park's tennis courts where a local band, Vertical Horizon, serenaded us with song.

Not just any song, but song you could dance to as you drank a little beer to. Yep, my Iowa hometown knew how to throw a 200th Birthday party! Sure, I hated the fact our graduation cap tassel was red, white and blue and had a minutemen replica dangling. I think I even told some teacher that night how much I hated that tassel!

But this night, two months later -all was forgiven. Even those Bicentennial Minutes we'd see daily on TV, I think on CBS, were now done--FINALLY. Hey, there was NO internet back then to divert attention. My diary tells me the guys I danced with, how much beer I downed as I danced, plus since I had that whole 'kiss list' thing going on-what guys' names were added--all on the park's tennis courts. I smile and think: Oh What A Night! And it was SO good, we did it all again the NEXT night! Happy Birthday USA!

On this day in 2009, I smile at those decade ago memories. What a great time! There are times I wish I could go back and relive them--but just be teeny bit smarter, then I realize I wouldn't really change much.

Now, I lean back in my comfy cozy, yet cluttered bungalow, along with a cat and a/c, to count my blessings for those that made this day possible for our Freedom.

Happy 4th of July!

In 1974, February 2 was Saturday

My diary tells me, I spent the day at a high school wrestling meet. From one of the opposing teams, there was a black guy, I'll call V. I wrote he was UG-A-LY!

Well, truth be known, V probably was a young Denzel Washington and a real good lookin' kid, but it wouldn't have mattered. During that time, he and I were probably the only two black kids in the filled auditorium. Remember, I was the only black student in my class, on top of the being half of the entire black student population in grades 9-12. Translation: out of 650 kids, 648 of em were white.

I digress.

In 1974, and for years after, I was afraid I wasn't attractive to black guys. I didn't know any. So I didn't know if they thought I was pretty. Sure, my dad always said I was his prettiest girl--but ya know, he was my dad. As much as I loved my little Iowa hometown, it wasn't much of melting pot. Not even a crock pot. It's a bit better now, yet still predominately Caucasian.

Back in high school, I started a Kiss List. It's what you think it is. Any guy I kissed whether on the lips, his cheek or he kissed my cheek, they went on a list and were rated 1-10. No joke. By February 2, 1974 there were just a few names on all three lists. In fact, I kissed two classmates, that day on the cheek. One was a guy who later, much later--like 20 years later, apologized for calling me a nigger. Said he should haven't done that even if I was 'colored' because I never did anything to him. We shared a beer over that. Anyway, the List was started to see if any white guys would ever kiss me.

WOW. Looking back, I was outgoing, loved to laugh, knew everybody, and if I buckled down I could get very good grades. I didn't buckle down. I figure I lack some confidence in the male species department and that's why I started a Kiss List. I wonder if V the wrestler could have gone it?

Naw. I was too scared to even LOOK his way. I do remember that. The mouths of chums, from back in the day and even from this day, will crash the floor when they read that. "You? Lack of self confidence?"

And my Kiss List? I eventually kept tally of just one list: On the Lips (and of course that's another story). When I graduated in 1976, I had 96 different names. Mister #100 happened about a week later, out at our town's drive-in. I admit, years later, he remembered he was #100 better than I did. We even joked about it this past summer. I retired the List in October 1977, due to I felt I had to grow up. The final tally? 153. Still not sure I grew up THAT much tho. :)

Back on February 2, 1974, new stuff. Scary stuff. .Yet my diary says I had a good time that Saturday afternoon. I'm sure I did.

Hmm. I wonder where V is today? I have his full name written in my diary. My luck he's some brain surgeon with a home in the Hamptons. I'll have to Google him.

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