OK, above is the only remaining image of my 10th birthday party. Saturday, October 25, 1975 (the Saturday directly following my actual birthday). The party was at Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour in Montclair, CA.Although we had very little money, we somehow managed to execute this party that included some of my 5th grade classmates. I see David Carter and Michael "Mike" Muchmore in the photo. Oh, and there's my cousin, Tina (at least that's what I always called her) on the left. My father probably even showed up to embarrass me to a degree he'll never understand but will affect me until I die.
So I was on the Facebook world wide web site this morning for some routine maintenance and to see what my Facebook Hardcap 100 "friends" were up to (try that with 673 "friends"). I realized that my FB "friends" span 34 years of my life. Not a bad range. The oldest two (not age, people I've known longest (sorry Jon)) were in my 5th grade class. I'll call them Stacey and Debbie because that's their names.
I was the new kid at Vista del Valle Elementary School beginning in the 5th grade after having to survive a horrid 4th grade year in Alice, Texas. Mrs. Riggle was our 1975-1976 teacher. We were in the portable/trailer classroom which we all called the bungalow. We sang patriotic songs and Mrs. Riggle assigned us to remind our parents to vote for Gerald Ford in the '76 election. Probably why I became a lifelong Republican, now that I trace it back.
Given Debbie and Stacey's status as my oldest Facebook friends (not age, people I've known longest (sorry Baty)), and even though I don't really do much backing and forthing with them, I love that they are a part of a history. I do believe that they'll be members of my Facebook Hardcap 100 in perpetuity (or until they de-friend me!).
Now, regarding Stacey, I have a particular memory that just happens to involve my 10th birthday party. The only memory I have of this party other than that photograph was receiving Stacey's gift. It was a 45 rpm record; The Beatles "I Want to Hold Your Hand" / "I Saw Her Standing There." This was significant in many respects, most salient:
a) It was the first record I ever received as a gift and I quickly grew to love music.Now, while Stacey does not appear in the photograph, it still serves as importantly representative. A bookmark for memories. Going back to the photograph....
b) It was probably my first intimate exposure to The Beatles whom I came to love.
c) Was it her clue to some sort of affection? Heck, I'd never ask; I could only wonder.
d) It was a real gift, not a toy, not something for kids. It was a real 45!
e) Though those songs were then 11 years-old, she picked absolute classics that will live forever.
Note:
a) There is an ashtray on the table. A perfect glimpse of the ancient history of America.Looking at my face in the image, I see a striking resemblance in my "almost 7" year-old daughter. Poor dear. Forget the college fund, I'll transfer the balance to the cosmetic surgery, orthodontia, and therapy fund. What?! Never mind, looking at that fund's balance, it looks like I owe Fidelity a couple of thousand dollars. Asshole economy!
b) I'm sportin' a pretty bitcin' Afro if I say so myself. That's major puff.
c) Mike and I were either too cool to wear a silly birthday hat or, more likely, we could only afford like 4 of 'em and we rotated the opportunity every 15 minutes.
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NEXT on Facebook Friends: Kook friends from college.
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