Hello, my beautiful friends and family! May I say you look fabulous, and I just adore you. Do you ever have that moment when you really really wish time machines were real? I am going through that at the moment. I would love so much to go back before the internet, back before people lost their cotton-picking minds over politics.
I deplore social media these days. They feed you nonsense and so much stress. I want to go back before people stopped talking to each other over politics (apart from that curmudgeon relative that always had a gripe about everything.) I really want to go back before alcohol and drugs took over some of my friends. Also, before the term politically correct was a thing. We called it being polite Simple so simple. So, we may have used some nicknames that were not correct. Sarge was one. The other may have been Porky. Oh Porky how I long to call you that again. I personally never said Porky with malice. How could I, he was sooo cute. Those brown eyes and brown curly hair made me swoon all the way to H.S. graduation. Except for that one time… Even when we were adults in our 40’s my girlfriends and I would argue about who was his girlfriend back then even though we had not seen him in a very long time since he lived very far away.
My time machine would go wayyyy back. All the way to the late 1970’s. That was the time I was in junior high GO Perkins Panthers! Go Perkins prison! My wonderful gang of friends had the best time. I have to say it was one of my very favorite periods in my life. Can’t we just go back to that time of innocence and joy? Back when we didn’t care about the wealth of our parents or the lack thereof. We just wanted to play. Didn’t care what you looked like, what religion we just wanted to play.
What you say? Junior high was horrible and how dare I. Ha! We were so fortunate to have found each other. When we got together as adults, we all have said the same thing. It was a rare and happy time in our lives.
Close your eyes and just remember that time in your life when you were still yourself. Wait wait wait. Don’t close your eyes now wait till the end of the post. Really what were you thinking?
Do not get me wrong we had our fair share of drama. Somehow it was ok though. We got through it together. We went roller skating, ice skating (Forrest lodge Ice skating anyone?) Barnhill’s ice cream after the movies. Oh! the parties on the weekend. Before the booze and cigarettes took over. We may have played spin the bottle once or twice. Well, my friends did not me. I was home studying, I assure you. Did you just roll your eyes at me?
I got a broken tail bone in 7th grade because we played rough. For some reason we would carry big combs in our back pocket and smack each other with them. Not sure why that happened. The goal was to sneak the comb out of the back pocket without the person noticing then bend it back and let it fly on each other booties. Did you just ask did that hurt? Yes, yes it did.
However, it was a time I didn’t have to filter my thoughts and opinions. It was glorious just to be Terri. So, if that really cute blonde guy sitting across the table from me right after he had knee surgery and that cute blonde guy said something stupid, I did not hesitate to kick him in the knee. After I realized what I had done (probably because of the look of pain on his face) I felt horrible. Not because I was remorseful no because I was afraid of his mom. If you ask this still handsome blonde guy about it, he will show you the permanent knot on his knee. You are so welcome.
Then there were the sleep overs and slumber parties. I remember being at my best friend’s house and her younger brother making us laugh all night. That is one of my all-time favorite memories.
But the best parties of all time were at Clays Park. Somehow, we got the idea to go there at the end of every school year. Clays Park is a lake with all kinds of rings to cross, slides, barrels and other water filled fun. I have no memory though of any parent being there. Nor do I have any pictures of parents being there. I swear we got dropped off and they let the lifeguards watch us. It was the 70’s. We would bring food and music and just have the best time. Yes, yes, I could get on the picnic table and dance. Didn’t dawn on me why I shouldn’t. Our ninth-grade party there that very cute guy who was a very funny boy named Porky got the grand idea to take a permanent marker and write on the top of my back while I was wearing a swimsuit. Now if you were there in the 70’s you would know sunscreen was not always used. Since I was so pasty white, I usually got a burn. Yes that is right. I got sunburned that day, so the burn was on top of the marker. When the marker did come off it was in glaring white letters on my back PORKY. So, all summer long I got asked if that was my nickname and why it was there. Thank You Porky!
Back to 2024 we do not call him that anymore (crazy hard not to but it isn’t nice right?)
Funny thing though. I swear all children should exercise or run in the morning. It wasn’t until I started running in the morning that I realized that one of the reasons I got great grades during my junior high years was it was a mile away and it was the 70’s we had to walk.
Now in 2024 we have friends who have gone to the great playground in the heavens. Some of us do not talk because of politics, addictions and a variety of other reasons. But I promise you I love those friends and those memories with all my heart. It was the best of times.
Ok you can close your eyes while you listen….
Styx – The Best Of Times (Official Video) (youtube.com)
Oh how we danced to this song.