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! 

Still July. Still Donny Osmond.

Still Dallas, Texas. TX. HOT. Got Blue Bell Peaches and Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream in the freezer and watermelon in the fridge. All is good and so on with the story....

Took a trip through time (aka my diary and my blog) because of Donny Osmond. My very first airplane trip took me from Des Moines Iowa to Las Vegas! You see, back in yester-century, namely the 70's, my own experience of Osmondmania was well in hand.

In fact, on this night, July 24, in 1974 I sat smack dab in THE BEST SEATS IN THE HOUSE in the Tropicana Showroom, to see Donny, his brothers and sister Marie. My sweet Big Daddy Don tipped the 'd 40 bucks for our seats . I sat at the end of these steps that came down from the stage. I really didn't get it--at the time.

Looking back, I bet some of the other teenage girls in that showroom hated me for where I sat. I had no clue it was THE BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE. My dad probably just wondered what in the world he was doing there. The scotch and milk probably erased any of his thoughts.

Being in shock I was seeing the Osmonds so up close and personal, imagine when the moment came I realized I had THE BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE. Girls crowded around the bottom of the steps as Donny broke out in song--I honestly can't remember, maybe "Puppy Love"? Donny came to the steps, maybe even took a couple steps down. Girls went nuts. I went speechless.

Donny was right THERE! He sang. Girls screamed. He reached and squeezed hands. I finally gained consciousness and raised mine. Donny TOUCHED my hand! We looked into each others eyes. Donny's smile blinded me. For a moment we had--well, a moment.

I asked my dad what he thought of the whole Vegas thing. My dad as only my sweet Big Daddy Don could say: "I thought you were crazy."

And the picture below isn't from 1974, because that picture of Donny and me is so blurry. Way before digital-so this is photo is from 1978. Still Las Vegas Just eight days after Donny married the girl on the left, his wife of 32 years, Debbie .

Even now on this so hot July summer day 2010 in Dallas. I still gotta smile because I was sat in THE BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE!

Sunday Short II

Sunday bout done.Tomorrow I go back to work. Honestly, I have LOVED this time OFF.

Refreshed.

Rested.

Ready.

To tackle changes that danced in the wind before I left.

Heck, I'll worry about THAT tomorrow!

In the meantime, a chum of mine did an overnight to Phoenix for a wedding-.

He was OK with the 24 hr trip and was glad to be back in Dallas.

For me, I thought an overnight wasn't long enough--he said "It's Phoenix."

Not sure what that meant, but--

I gave ponder and decided if I was to do an overnight--it would be

New York City. Yep for 24 hours. Not so much to see what sites

I could see-it would be for the four chums I have there, who I did the

Whole Donny Osmond and the Osmond Brothers thing with.

My chums and I have not seen each

Other for such a long time now-so for

That 24 hours we'd squeal, giggle and remember

How it was when we were 17-

Yea, for 24 hours I could do that.

For starters anyway!