August 6, 1974 was Tuesday

.....and home from Las Vegas trip for four whole days. All my rolls of 126 film were 'in the shop" as we use to say back then--and I waited, what seems like years to have them developed and returned. Let me say, those rolls of film might as well be crystal. Fragile. Delicate. One of those rolls held my my prized possesion photo of me with Donny Osmond.  Special cargo indeed!
**Let me back up a moment.  Dad, my cousin, and I were in Las Vegas until July 26. I hated the thought of leaving. I mean, I would be leaving the Osmonds!!  Plus, I'd met three girls who Greyhound it from outside Philadelphia to Las Vegas. We met in a hallway were the Osmonds would head to the backstage door. Those three girls and I had bonded and nobody wanted anybody to leave. Well, Dad wasn't feelin' any of that. Our next stop would be Phoenix, Arizona. So I had to say good bye to my new three friends--who remain y friend to this day--and to the Osmonds. Would the Osmonds even know I was gone? 
**** Yep. An aunt and cousins lived there. Once they lived just 35 miles from us, now they lived in another time zone. This was my closet cousin. I loved her. She was like my big sister, but she was NOT an Osmond. Once I got to Phoenix, I did have a good time. And I did talk my Dad into letting me stay a couple more days, while he and my cousin went on back to Iowa.  Those couple more days were August 2, 1974. Once I got back into Des Moines, I still lived another 35 miles away. My uncle was going to drive me from his daughter's place to my house. He just lived a few blocks from me. The thing is I had TO get home by 10:30 PM.  Why? Because the Osmond Brothers were to be on the Tonight Show and their new single, "Love Me For A Reason."  After some pouting and yawning, my uncle drove me home thinking I was just 'so tired from my trip."
***Sure, uncle. I made it with time to spare to watch guest host Joey Bishop introduce my fab five. I got goosebumps all over again.  Ya know, like any fan, I wondered if by some chance they remembered me...maybe? 
******To cut to the chase, I still had to wait a couple more days for my film to arrive. I don't think the kids of today could fathom we waited a week to see photos. My heart raced as I inspected each packets. I search for my infamous version of crystal. Where was it? Don't tell me the girl who took the picture didn't really take it?? Then:

Yea. My heart sank. Blurry. Right after my photo, there's the photo of the girl who took the picture with Donny. Her photo, that I took, was clear--although she was looking the off to the side. Donny was smiling right at ME....with MY camera. I did send the photo the girl as I'd promised. Here I was, sending her a gorgeous photo, even tho she looked off to the side, and I get Blur City in my Iowa small town. I just knew this was going to be the best there ever was. Would I ever get a chance to see Donny and the rest of his Brothers ever again--so I could get a better photo? And make more memories? Would I?
*************Stay tuned! 

January 20, 1990 was Saturday

And I went to Dog Races on a chartered Greyhound (coincidence?) Bus. A bus I'd actually chartered for a friend of mine, TZ. At the time I was charter travel sales rep for Greyhound, where I reserved, mapped, booked and collected money. In fact, this was the job that brought me to Texas in the first place.

Anyway, this charter was in Iowa and I had no plans to be there. Yet, I'd returned for a family funeral, so TZ said I needed to come along, with the other 30 folks, since I actually set up the trip. Honestly, I was a bit antsy, it was January in Iowa afterall. Snow and ice had made themselves known on this day. No matter, TZ said, we were still going the approx 130 miles to the Dog Races.

As we waited for the folks to show at the meeting place, TZ and I made sandwiches, all while I cringed at the howl of the Winter wind.

No need to mind. We made it there and back in one piece. All the folks were happy, even tho TZ kept saying he wish he could do more the folks. On the drive back, TZ did stay up front with the bus driver to keep him company, while everyone, including myself, snoozed.

Twenty years ago today, that charter was. At the time we knew Teddy Kennedy would have his Massachusettes seat forever, while the 1st George Bush was in the White House, and now I lived in Dallas, while the tv show "Dallas" was still in its first run. Where did the time fly to? Twenty years.

It's bittersweet, because I can't even remember the last time I saw TZ. I heard he's well. The sweet part was when I was 12 I told Mom I thought TZ pretty cute. She just smiled. You see, TZ's family owned a little ice cream shop, and for me nobody made better vanilla or chocolate ice cream-however they ONLY made vanilla and chocolate ice cream!

As for the Dog Races of 1990, I won eight bucks.

May 4, 1990 was Friday

I got laid off.

Nope--not on this day in 2009, but back then. The company that brought myself and a few other co-workers to Dallas from Iowa, announced at 9am we were history at 4pm. We saw it coming, yet in denial. Greyhound Bus Lines' drivers were on strike. Without any drivers, or even replacement drivers, there wasn't enough work for us. I was a Charter Bus Travel Rep. I enjoyed that job--when it was in Iowa. When we moved to Dallas, I dunno--something just was different. Worked with a fine group of folks, yet something was missing. Bigger City, Brighter Lights. Not sure.

With the layoff, came a decision: leave or stay? The co-workers I cared the most about didn't hesitate. Back to Iowa before the U-Haul was even packed. Me, I wasn't so sure. I'd lived in Kansas City twice, plus lived in Des Moines (which was 35 miles away from my hometown). I couldn't stand the fact of moving back home---again. Honestly, I think I worried too much what folks would thing, when actually I shoulda cared less.

I was so in love with a man then (when wasn't I?) Problem was, he wasn't in love with me as much--like not at all, but that came into play later on...which of course is another post. Yet, I didn't care. Maybe for him, I decided to move here, even tho he didn't realize that. Greyhound wanted to send me to Atlanta to work in a 2 person office. I would have been the other person in that 2 person office. I thought about it --hard. Even met the other person, who's job was to wine and dine me so I'd consider the Atlanta move.

Part of me wanted Atlanta. For once I'd be part of the majority, instead of always being the minority, as was in my hometown-where I was one of the two black students in my entire high school. But, I didn't like the thought of moving somewhere -again-where I didn't know anybody ala Kansas City. That's another reason, outside of the man I loved, but who didn't love me, I chose Dallas. I would be moving with folks I knew.

So while others caravaned back to Iowa, I pitched my tent and stayed in Dallas.

19 years ago. Any regrets? More like what if's. If I'd moved back to Iowa, just one more time? If I'd gone to Atlanta, in 1988, instead of Dallas? How would my life be different? Because I was so nuts about this guy back then, I didn't give any other guy a chance. If I had, maybe I'd be married, kids, more cats, a dog, a Cadillac Escalade...OK, getting a little materialistic, yet you get my point.

Hmm.

Just hafta remember, He didn't bring me this far to leave me.