July 24, 1974, Donny Osmond & Me

Today was the day, in that galaxy far far away, known as the 20th Century, I met Mr.Teen Idol King himself--Donny Osmond--for the very first time--sorta.  Yep. Somehow I talked my Sweet Big Daddy Don to take me to for a four night, three night stay in Las Vegas, so I could see The Osmond Brothers. Their younger sister Marie had just started performing with them too. 
***After some prodding, and I'm sure pouting on my part, Dad agreed.  He thought my ten year older than me cousin Jan could come along-sort of another female for me to hang with. Dad wasn't sure what we were getting into. Heck, me being the Osmond fan, all I cared about was seeing the Osmonds perform, for just my second time--and >gasp< MEET them? The teen magazine bible at the time, Tiger Beat, showed pictures of lucky girls who got their Deep Purple moment to meet them--plus I was really in the pen pal circuit then.
***Any of you have pen pals?  Ya know, we actually wrote letters, put stamps on them, and snail mailed them. About 99% of my worldwide 100 pen pals were also Osmond fans and even most of them had met Alan, Wayne, Merrill, Jay and just about everybody's hearthrob, Donny. I was bound and determined to be  part of the elite group too.
***OK, back to the story--The Osmonds were performing at the Tropicana. Due to some convention or something, the hotel was booked. Dad, Jan and I stayed down the street at the Hacienda--which had a leak in the ceiling hallway. Dad wanted me to stay with him and my cousin--I wanted to go to the Tropicana. I won.  We did breakfast at the Tropicana, on the 24th, and all I could think of is I wanna meet an Osmond....and I'm sure my Dad looked at those menu prices and wondered if a McDonald's was near by...
*******As we came out of the Tropicana  restaurant, Dad wanted to do something silly, like sight see--while I wanted to might see some Osmonds. I did know Dad wasn't feelin' that so something had to happen and quick otherwise I might be banished to the Hoover Dam. As if God heard my prayers, a fellow teenage girl asked me who I was and I told her. She began to smile and told me to look in this thick scrapbook on her lap.
******I saw a picture of ME and a short note I wrote to the Osmonds!  This other teenage girl was named Bonnie. She'd written me a few months prior, saying she was going to be Las Vegas for the Osmonds. Bonnie planned to give them a scrapbook filled with their fans and would I want to contribute?  Never, ever thinking I would meet her (Bonnie lived out East) now here she was! Bonnie, her sister (I have forgotten her name) and a few other teenage girls were waiting in the hallway, outside the restaurant. Bonnie said this spot was a great place to meet the Osmonds---they did have to eat. My eyes widened and I looked at Dad.  I'm sure he panicked. I wasn't even close to 21, this was before Las Vegas was kid friendly, and I wanted to be left at this hu-mungus hotel for as he said "a bunch of white boys."  I know Dad was about to say No. And he really probably should have---but something happened. Not sure exactly what.
***Maybe Bonnie's parents said something to reassure him. I do remember them talking. After what seemed like forever, Dad said I could stay, but I had to stay around Bonnie and her family. I had to be back at the Hacienda by such and such a time because we were going to see the Osmonds perform that night. Dad gave me taxi money and hesitantly left me there, only after I spotted my first Osmond--the eldest, Alan and his wife Suzanne. They had been married so far, at that time, a grand total of eight days.I got my picture snapped with him. Girls were going nuts, flashing cameras (way before digital) and all--I knew then I wasn't in Iowa anymore.
*****Then as if on cue, Wayne Osmond walked thru--hysteria again. I got my photo op with Wayne too.  I could not believe my good fortune!  I don't know how long we waited--minutes, an hour or so--I don't remember, and my diary doesn't tell me---SCREAMS. Some so high pitched only dogs could hear them--Girls were pushing each other. SCREAMS. Tears and why?

********Donny. DONNY.  I froze. The security guard stuck to Donny like glue. I took as many pictures as my little box 126 camera could take--- The guard let a couple girls get close to have their picture taken with Donny. That alone made the hysteria get even worse. The guard took Donny's arm and began to lead him away. I tried to get my picture with him, as the guard led Donny away. No luck. I did get Donny's autograph but no picture to really prove Donny and I occupied the same space. I was downtrodden for awhile until....

TeenyBopper AARP Dream Team

Are in Dallas tonight: Headliner David Cassidy, with opening act Davy Jones. I gave ALOT of thought to go and not enough thought of how flat broke I am. Last night, I tinkered on Ticketmaster to see where the best seats were. Section 102, row E.

Just right of Center. Just 5 rows from the stage. I could probaby be able to see the gray on both David and Davy. I stared at the total price of 82 bucks and change-for once ticket. I remember what a co-worker said on Friday: "You'll be so mad if you don't go." The venue was all of 20 minutes from me.

David and Davy. Almost pert near in my back yard. 82 bucks and change. In 2000, granted I spent 85 bucks to see Tina Turner with 20, 000 of my closest and dearest friends. I was so close to her, that when Tina was on the crane and flew over people, I could see her zipper was broken on her white slacks.

However in 2010. I decided I couldn't do the 82 bucks. Stuff I needed to pay stared back at me. Would David and Davy forgive me? Would they play somewhere that wasn't 82 bucks? I've never seen David Cassidy in person, but Davy-.saw him several times in the Monkees' Reunion tours.

Why wasn't Davy the headliner? Maybe that's what really bummed me. Davy was the first 'older man' I feel in love with. Sure I was eight at the time, but hey! OK, I coulda robbed from Peter to pay Paul, and then swipe from each of the deciples, to get the ticket money. Yet, I chose not to.

Oh well. At least Marcia Brady got her wish.

April 12, 1950 was Wednesday

....and the day David Cassidy was born!

I can't believe the groovy and just too cute guy who dazzled me and a gazillion other girls as Keith Partridge back in the 70's, turns 59 today! I bet David's got his share of AARP membership invites, just like me. Wonder if David tosses 'em--just like me? If David hasn't, I'd be willing to let him use one of those AARP discounts on me for a long over due wanna be Tiger Beat kinda date.

See, back when I was a teen, I just KNEW David and I were destined! How did I know? Well, it had nothing to do with I was in Iowa and David wasn't even close to that time zone. Nope, it had to do with we both were born in April and in the SAME decade.

Yea. OK. Laugh if you well. My mom probably tried to hide her laughter when I made this announcement. Does show how creative I was even then to use my imagination! Do what I could to make something point in my direction. Let's say, like Captain James T. Kirk of the Starship Enterprise did on the Kobayashi Maru because --er--that's another post!

Back to David.

So grown up and with that gorgeous hair! How could one girl not fall for him? Kept a soft spot for David even when I moved on to the Osmonds, to boys right in front of me instead of in a magazine, to when I got older and had the desire to have legs like Tina Turner legs (which I still don't have!)--always wanted David to still be there. That the public thought of David in a positive light, whether they saw him as still Keith Partridge, or adult TV actor or Broadway star, especially as years crept upon us all.

So cue up the song that proves David was always on my mind...Happy Birthday!

Missed March 19, 1971 being Friday

Too busy oogling the wisteria in my present day backyard and forgot another memory of this day.
However, on this Saturday 2009, when I don't have any strawberries for my oatmeal, I still gotta smile. See, back on March 19, 1971 I thought I'd pretty much died and gone to heaven. And on that day after Saturday 1971, I remember asking my best friend if she felt the same. And no, I didn't have the house filled with A & W onions or gallons of ice cream.

Great thought tho.

Nope. All bubblegummers, tweens (we didn't have that word then, but I'm sure they floated too), teenyboppers floated on clouds. THE two kings of Tiger Beat Magazine-dom were together! On one show! Bobby Sherman guest starred on The Partridge Family starring David Cassidy! This was way before vcr's. So we all had our tape recorders in front of our non 42-inch plasma or LCD TVs, to capture this momentous occasions.

Bobby looked so cute in that purple shirt --and oh my!--that choker! David was just cute period! As we swooned, and ran our tongue over our braces, we wondered if we would ever grow up to be girls Bobby and David would ever like. Could we? Would they?

After 38 years, I still wonder.

In the meantime, let's cue up a little "Stephanie" from that infamous episode. OK. I admit, I substituted my name instead. Anybody else do the same? :)

...and after the break....

David Archuleta--he did bring down the house. However, David Cook--his maturity. Just his sound. Even tho, I wasn't that familiar with two of the three songs, I felt he was great. He's a winner no matter what. David Archuleta....he's the younger sets' hearthrob. Back in my day, he'd be on Tiger Beat covers for months....oh wait....is Tiger Beat still around? :)

.....and now back to Dancing With the Stars!