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What Did You Do?
Wrote a poem when I was around 13 years old. I did alot of that, then. That particular one was also assigned a tune - which may explain why it's committed to memory.
Tried to catch "Schoolhouse Rock" whenever possible. It rocked. Too many to choose a favorie, but "Figure Eight" comes to mind.
Made crank phone calls with my best friend late at night. With a rotary dial phone, of course, and an open phone book We said some of the dumbest things to some of the dumbest people and delighted in the endeavor.
So, let's get together tonight in the living room and reminisce. It's peaceful outside, the crickets are singing and the tree frogs croaking "Caddy Shack" is on in the background. Chex mix is on the table, along with any topic. Brush off the cares of the day with a few cool cobwebs. And cocktails. One of the few advantages of being a grownup. Then again ... I remember a party.....
C'mon, tell us, we won't tell anybody else. Pinkie promise! What did you do?
Comments (25)
WOW!
This post brings so many memories crashing in!
1. Here's the chorus (all I can remember) of a, say, 11-year-old songwriting effort of me (the lyricist) and a friend (who could play a rudimentary guitar):
Johnny grows up
johnny grows up
Johnny acts like a playful pup
'Cause Johnny loves people.
(I can't believe I shared that!)
2. Found a guy named Ervin Fuchs in the phone book one night and called him, howling about his last name.
3. Called another guy at random and told him that if he could sing the Campbell's Soup theme song, he'd win a brand new TV. He crooned, "Mmm, Good! Mmm, Good", etc. We took his name and address and the whole nine. He's probably still waiting for the TV.
4. Schoolhouse Rock:
"Lolly, lolly, lolly, get your adverbs here ..."
Memories!
Like the corners of my mind!
July 10, 2008 12:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
That's what we are....just like the way we were.
You made me laugh out loud while reading, thank you!!!
And people love Johnny, too.
July 10, 2008 12:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
I would let Johnny know, but, if I recall correctly, he died at the end of the song.
You have to remember that this was the day of ...
"And, Honey, I miss you
And I'm being good
And I'd love to be with you
If only I could.
And not too long after ...
Teen angel, can you hear me?
Teen angel, can you see me?
Are you somewhere up above?
Am I still you're own true love?
Death was in back then.
As long as you the victim expired sympathetically and musically.
July 10, 2008 12:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oh Cowboy.
I was out on a date in my Daddy's car,
We hadn't driven very far -
There in the road, straight ahead,
The car stalled, the engine was dead -
Shoot. What was the name of that song?
July 10, 2008 12:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
I couldn't stop
So I swept (swerved?) to the right
I'll never forget
The sounds that night
The screaming tires
The busting glass
The fatal scream that I
Heard last
Where O where baby be?
The Lord took her away from me.
She's gone to heaven
So I've got to be good
So I can see my baby
When I leave
This world.
As far as a title, "Where O Where Can My Baby Be"??????
July 10, 2008 1:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
Should be "Where O where can my baby be" ...
July 10, 2008 1:06 AM | Reply | Permalink
This is awful, you've got me thinking of death songs!
D.O.A. In process of trying to remember the lyrics, since I refuse to look them up.
July 10, 2008 1:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well, I remembered the lyrics above (that you started) before looking them up, but I wasn't sure of the name of the song.
Last Kiss, first recorded by Wayne Cochran and the C.C. Riders.
But here's something I did NOT know. I had no idea that Pearl Jam also did it (not being a huge Pearl Jam fan).
As far as DOA, my sister had an album by a group called Bloodrock which featured a song called "DOA." The chorus (I guess it was the chorus) went:
IIIIIIIII remember
We were flying low
And hit something in the air.
July 10, 2008 1:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
Have nothing against looking things up, depending on whether I want to challenge my memory. I often lose the challenge. ;)
Last Kiss, thanks. That song used to really freak me out.
SO! What else do you remember?
July 10, 2008 1:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
I remember innocence.
I remember having zero experience with this new boy/girl thing.
I remember managing to find the guts to call Leigh and ask her out.
I remember her saying, "Yes," and my bounding down the hill to tell my older brother.
I remember the hayride, and kisses that blew my inexperienced mind.
I remember subsequent dates and our eventual falling in love. Me with her and, unbelievably she with me.
I remember the mutual exploration of our adolescent wants and needs.
Damn, I remember innocence.
I remember sweetness.
I remember Leigh.
July 10, 2008 1:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
Beautiful. Does she know all of this? She should.
I remember writing down my thoughts before I called a guy so I wouldn't forget what to say. And sounding stupid anyway. But the right guy would sound stupid, too.
Innocence. What a lovely thing.
July 10, 2008 2:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
God, that was 30 years ago. She knew how I felt then. I've seen her on occasions since then (she's still very beautiful), but I don't know if I could tell her how she hung me up for so long. And I'm not sure that she doesn't already know.
Anyway, I'm in a really good place now. Though I don't guess you ever forget your first.
And, damn, she could kiss!
July 10, 2008 2:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
I sat out to the lake with a girl I was in love with, with Michelob in bottles illegally bought by a freind of mine, and tried to be perfectly cool so she would fall in love with me back. Didn't work -- rarely does, especially at 13.
This day last year, I sat scared in the NICU watching my 10-week premature twin boys trying to breathe on their first day of life, finally realizing they shared the birthday of their namesake (and deceased) grandfather. This morning, the three of us took our daily walk, all healthy, all growing well and normally.
I still treasure the memory of Gina out by Lake Sue. I think I like today's a bit more.
I love these threads.
July 10, 2008 12:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
Dude,
Great post!
And, coming from another dad (and someone who was born eight weeks premature), congrats on this morning's walk with your boys and best of luck in the future!
Preemies ROCK!
July 10, 2008 12:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
Priceless. Thank you for sharing with us. Treasures are too few, you are blessed.
July 10, 2008 12:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oh Gosh! Huge oversight for which I cannot apologize enough.
Happy Birthday to your boys! And to your father as well. Consider a balloon blown up just for them, and a cake baked.
July 10, 2008 12:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
She's on your mind tonight, that's high praise.
Conjunction Junction-
I'm Just A Bill-
Bonfires. Good grief, I still love a good bonfire.
July 10, 2008 2:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
The Bonfire of the Vanities.
Or just a bonfire.
Love 'em both.
Love you.
Gotta go to bed.
See ya!
July 10, 2008 2:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
Night, Cowboy.
July 10, 2008 2:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
Somebody, please remind me to write about bonfires.
Then again, anyone still up and dropping by to see me?
July 10, 2008 2:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
Write about bonfires.
'Night.
July 10, 2008 3:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
Promise. Night, Quinn.
July 10, 2008 3:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
Goodnight all. Hope you'll stop by later to chat, reflect, and take a deep breath. See you then....
July 10, 2008 4:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
Amazing. If msa hadn't butted in, you could have had the first ever thread totally talking to yourself.
July 10, 2008 8:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
Nothing of value again. Only negativity. Gotcha!
July 10, 2008 11:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
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