Pheonix
When I was eleven or twelve (both actually) we lived in Arizona for a school year.
Sixth grade, I believe.
It was 1953-54.
A social event was planned by the school, a dance.
I remember looking forward to the thing, my girlfriend would be there.
Other friends would be there.
There was much discussion and anticipation.
The rules were given us; "No Levis".
Jeans, Denim; verboten, if you can't dress decently, don't come.
My mother laid out my costume for the evening;
Levis and a nice shirt, white with a bit of green embroidered decoration.*
"We're not supposed to wear jeans" says I.
"Oh it'll be alright" says mom "you look nice"
So I walked the (approx) mile to school, looked in the window of the gym or hall or whatever room it was the dance was in, watched for awhile then decided on the better part of valor and walked home.
I have yet to determine exactly what crippling psychological affect this incident has had on my psyche.
Could this be why I'm such a turkey?
*OMG, was there a string tie involved?
Sixth grade, I believe.
It was 1953-54.
A social event was planned by the school, a dance.
I remember looking forward to the thing, my girlfriend would be there.
Other friends would be there.
There was much discussion and anticipation.
The rules were given us; "No Levis".
Jeans, Denim; verboten, if you can't dress decently, don't come.
My mother laid out my costume for the evening;
Levis and a nice shirt, white with a bit of green embroidered decoration.*
"We're not supposed to wear jeans" says I.
"Oh it'll be alright" says mom "you look nice"
So I walked the (approx) mile to school, looked in the window of the gym or hall or whatever room it was the dance was in, watched for awhile then decided on the better part of valor and walked home.
I have yet to determine exactly what crippling psychological affect this incident has had on my psyche.
Could this be why I'm such a turkey?
*OMG, was there a string tie involved?
posted by Lane Savant at 12:33 PM
6 Comments:
There is no way for me to fully segue to what motivated you to bring up this incident. Did Mama Marge just pop into your cranium? Did Mama and Ms. Meredith boss you around in some particular manner that was reminescent of your dear mother's machinations?
The little story brings to mind CATCHER IN THE RYE by J.D. Salinger, which was published in 1951. Maybe you read it then. I don't think I read it until 1960 in Sophomore English.
It is, of course, quite possible, considering your delicate constitution, your lack of self esteem, and you attraction for the state of other-directiveness, that this incident of the levis and the Elementary school dance did scar you psychologically, and that it has led you, in part, to the person you are today, and have been for 58 years since the incident. And to conjure up a memory of a string tie would be like a psychological wedgey lumped up inside you. My heart goes out to you. No one should have to face childhood traumas as often as you force yourself to.
I liked your capper on your comment to the last posting, for Anonomann, Alex, and I DO like your music--but I doubt it will be enough to turn the tide of your rnnts and griping. I would hope not. And probably David is one of your composition fans, and Robin, and two or three others maybe. A fan base is a difficult thing to muster. Just ask Eddy. Just ask Emily. Just ask Zanky Albo.
Glenn
You think you have childhood traumatic memories, dude? I, too, went to a dance in Elementary School. But I was a farm kid, and the cleanest clothes I owned were bibbed overalls. It was 10 miles to school, and I had to ride a bike--but my father had run over mine with the tractor the day before, so I had to ride my sister's bike; a panty pink thing with tassles on the handle bars. When I dismounted, several assholes whistled at me, and one kid asked me to dance. I did not have a girlfriend. I had to go stag. I didn't have decent shoes, and we were not supposed to wear sneakers according to the dress code, so I went barefooted. But by the time I was 12 I had become a prodigy on the guitar, and my old six string was slung over my back as I rode my pink pony onto the school grounds. There was no live band. The English teacher was spinning 45's at a table up front. So I walked up on the small stage there in the gym, unslung my guitar, and whipped out some Delta blues. The kids went wild. Then I knocked them dead with my covers of Eddie Cochran, Duane Eddy. I played LOUIE, LOUIE like ten times. Finally the principal grabbed me by the collar and dragged me from the stage, telling the kids that I was ruining the hop. Several of the kids started throwing food and using the F word. I was not allowed back in, but I truly believe that was the actual beginning of my career as a minor rock and roll star.
Eddy Emerald
Ya get old, nostalgia becomes about the only thing you can do without hurting yourself.
I don't think "scar" actually comes into it.
Besides, the apocryphal Emerald could actually play that thing.
Y'know, I think I have a picture somewhere of yers troolie with a string tie IN HIGH SCHOOL,
It was the fifties, probably some kind of commie plot.
Hallo, Lane!!
Maybe we already met in 1953-54!!
I attended the U. of Arizona-Tucson from Sept. 53-May 54, because my doctor felt I needed frsh, unpoluted, dry air after a life in LA, which ruined my lunghs enougth to partially (other thing was my crooked spine) make me 4-F for the draft. I then attended AZ Státe U-Tempe in the Summer 1954. After that I spent the academic year 54-55 in the clean air of Denver. But many of the upper-division courses in Marketing didn't "go", so I transferred to Enormous State University (a.k.a. Ohio State), where I finished my B.Sc. in Business in August 1956 and stayed for my MBA in 1957 and my Ph.D. in August 1959. Where in AZ were you in 1953-54??
Very curious,
Anonomann
Hallo, Glenn!
You left two important fans of Lane's compositions out of your list of his admirers: Emily and Eddie Èmerald, the latter also a composer (a.k.a. David Diamond).
Disappointed,
Anonomann
Hallo, Lane, Meredith, and Keth:
The LL and I send our regards and wish you -- and Glenn and his -- a sunny long weekend (Friday and Monday are full hoildays in Deutschland.
Tschüß,
Anonomann
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