Like it was yesterday. Sitting around a radio – chain smoking – staring to somewhere in space – pondering oblivion. You and your friends – all eighteen – all went to the draft board. Future on hold – maybe no future at all – last good day on earth. The
Nobody said being a cheerleader was dull work. You had the Basketball face to prove it. Blame Gwen, she had the bright idea to pep things up with a few well-sloshed Budweisers “just to take the edge off”. Never much of a drinker – no booze in the house. Had
Your fan club. Blame Art Linkletter -Blame House Party – Blame your school. You got picked out of hundreds – you won a raffle – you were going to be famous. Your principal bragged – kept patting you on the head – kept messing up your hair. You wanted to
Lime green Jell-o. Lime Green paper slippers Lime Green walls. The Sunshine Pepto-Bismol People – following you. There’s a message here. Lots of time with thoughts. Thoughts are all you got. Because you ain’t got clothes. Your butt embraces cold air. You wear a faded tablecloth. Flowers and Pandas with
You had nothing in common – You had everything in common. You had nothing in common with each other. Oil and water – polar opposites – mashed potatoes and concrete. Her brother was a Marine – your brother was somewhere in Toronto She got accepted to Dartmouth – you’re waiting
It’s your mind – and it’s talking to you. It’s not telling you to rob a bank or jump off a cliff. No. It’s telling you the food is terrible and minutes are dragging into hours. It’s telling you it’s May and June will take forever. And maybe that’s good
Discovering there are people with big-big problems. As Christmas seasons went, this one made the top 10 list. You made it through your entire two week job at May Company Wilshire without having one kid piss his pants all over you – not one kid toss their cookies and most
You’ve been planning on it for weeks. Ever since you heard the rumor. Empty house – friend’s parents going to a dress-up Company party somewhere in Santa Barbara – no offspring invited. Just adults – lucky you. Invited half the senior class. Could be a golden opportunity. You perfected the
You’d think. After graduating High School – after graduating College – after applying for a hundred jobs – after buying your first honest-to-god business suit, you would calm down. You would mellow. You would fit. Nope. Always have – always will have a problem with authority figures. In elementary school,
November 26, 1971 – KHJ – Johnny Williams – Mike Devich Collection – In your defense you were nervous – none of your girlfriends has ever invited you to their parents house for Thanksgiving dinner – not one. She said her family wanted to meet you – they heard a
