Another "Slice of life"
It was my high school graduation day, May 27, 1971. I remember that day for more than one reason.
Well it's graduation - I'm 17 years old with a new "store bought" white dress with red flowers stitched down the front. I have my maroon graduation gown and hat in my hands. I'm standing in the hall outside the gym with my class mates putting on our hats and gowns. I suddenly noticed how quiet it seemed to get.I turned to look at the only other activity in the hall. A young man walking towards me wearing dark pants and sweater with a white turtle neck shirt, his short blonde hair bouncing as he walked. He had a big grin on his face and sparkling green eyes. Wow, I though, could it be? Was it? Yes it was. My boyfriend of nearly 4 years, fresh home from Vietnam.
All I remember is the murmur of my friends, and the cheering I was doing on the inside. He's home....he's really home. His 2nd tour of duty in Vietnam is over. His army duty is over and he's home for good this time. In back of my mind I remember him saying some 2 2/1 year earlier "The only way I'll be back is in a wooden box."This was one time I was glad he was wrong."
Well it's graduation - I'm 17 years old with a new "store bought" white dress with red flowers stitched down the front. I have my maroon graduation gown and hat in my hands. I'm standing in the hall outside the gym with my class mates putting on our hats and gowns. I suddenly noticed how quiet it seemed to get.I turned to look at the only other activity in the hall. A young man walking towards me wearing dark pants and sweater with a white turtle neck shirt, his short blonde hair bouncing as he walked. He had a big grin on his face and sparkling green eyes. Wow, I though, could it be? Was it? Yes it was. My boyfriend of nearly 4 years, fresh home from Vietnam.
All I remember is the murmur of my friends, and the cheering I was doing on the inside. He's home....he's really home. His 2nd tour of duty in Vietnam is over. His army duty is over and he's home for good this time. In back of my mind I remember him saying some 2 2/1 year earlier "The only way I'll be back is in a wooden box."This was one time I was glad he was wrong."
I new he was coming home, I just didn't know what day. I'm forever grateful it was my graduation day.
posted by Deb | 9:34 PM
12 Comments:
I love the stories. Here's a little something I remember. Going with Ronnie to the Dairy Queen for a Pepsi, pack of Salem's, a New Coke (hated it but that was my only Coke at the time), and a Snickers. Then off to haul bails, round up cattle, cut hay, or whatever else had to be done.
I was a bit taken back by the story... hard to explain other than not exactly what I was expecting to be reading on your blog today. I will add a little anecdote of my own. Chad taking me out in the Rusty Orange Suburban to a field north of the farm. We were just on the side of the hill and I got into the drivers seat. Chad told me to grab the shifter and pull it down into gear and then just barely touch the gas pedal. First mistake -- reverse. Second mistake -- not barely touching the gas pedal. We both found out very quickly that there used to be some pots and pans in the third seat, used to be because now they are in the second seat. Also, I was a little taken back by the "power" of the Rusty Orange Suberban. After this experience, Chad, who was all of about 13 years old, climbed back in the drivers seat and drove us back to the farm, the two of us laughing so hard we were tearing up.
Mitch that story reminded me of this one. I don't remember this but I have been told that it took me a while to learn to ride my bike without training wheels. I think it was because of the Hot Wheels I was addicted to. Anyway, I remember people being surprised that Mitch could ride a bike without training wheels. I would sit on the handle bars of his bike and he would cruise around. I guess this helped him learn how to pedal. I can remember either being on someone's handle bars or having someone on mine nearly all the time. Kind of hard on a 10 speed but it can be done.
here's one you'll enjoy. hayley and i were out at the farm and gma deb was in the infamous pink trailer house. mitch had his old brown boat (i think it was a buick). anyways, hayley was in the front seat teaching me how to drive (mind you we were only about 7 or 8) anyway, she pulled the shifter down and we rolled backwards into a fence. i was totally freaked out because of what just happened i started crying hysterically. hayley looked at me like i was retarded. she got out of the car and we never said a word to anyone. to this day, i don't know if anyone knew about this. this was the first of many trips of hayley and i driving without a permit or license only this time we were smart enough not to get caught. i can't say that happened every time we drove though.
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The ol' Buick, what a sweet machine that was. I remember getting 6 miles/gallon cruising main. I also remember Mitch putting locomitive oil in the motor because it used it so fast and the thicker oil lasted longer. I remember buying that sweet ride for $100. It had no mufler so it was hard for me to sneak around without a driver's license. Good thing ol' Lightning Leon could be out-foxed even with a machine that rattled windows when it drove by. I also remember the "speed test" and let me tell you that thing could go. Sorry I had to delete my previous attempt at a comment due to a spelling error. Drove me crazy to look at it.
There are too many stories about the Buick, where do you start... Here is my favorite memory about the Buick. There was a short in the horn on the steering wheel, so it would only 'honk' when you held it in and turned the wheel to a certain position, about 11 o'clock. The great part about this was if you did it while holding onto something metal you would get one heck of a shock. Best part was convincing one of your passengers to hold onto the horn and then make it honk and see them almost jump out the window...
Other great memories about the Buick, foglights in the back window, Kraco tape player, vacuum trunk release, spray-on tint, smoke bellowing out from under the hood when you pulled up to someone to chat, not fire... just a little oil leak... loved the Buick. Newest favorite thing about the Buick... when your sister and cousin tried to teach each other to drive and they hit a fence, no dents. I didn't know about that, that is funny stuff.
Shelly, if I remember correct, you jumped in to Gma Deb's arms and cried...I remember this because I got punished...You cried and cried..I thought it was funny until Gma Deb yelled at me..heck, I still think it is funny!!
Fog light in the rear window and spray on window tint. I forgot about that. I have to tell you that both were a HUGE pain in the $%* to do. Do you know how hard it is to cut speaker and light holes in a car made of steel with a saw that if warmed barely cuts butter. Eventually there was a crowbar involved during installation. Here is another little diddy. Didn't think of this until it worked on our van we have now. You could take out the key and hand it to the person sitting beside you. As a matter of fact I don't think Mitch even had a key towards the end.
That buick was really a cool ride in it's day. It had an radio antena that could be raised and lower from a button inside. It had a little red thingy would could set at speed "55" and when you got to 55 it would buzz and let you know you were speeding (and I know you kids would move it away from where I set it ..but atleast the first time it buzzed you would be reminded of "ma") It had elecric windows way before it was standard. And hearing all these memories...the old boat was worth it's weight in gold.
Ma, it didn't have electric windows, it did have a trunk large enough to keep the mob in business though. Oh and it's weight in gold would be about $19 million. It was a cool ride but I'd take the $19 million.
That was very touching. Being an ex serviceman I can truly appreciate it. Getting to know Ronnie and you these last few years has been great. I rellay chuckle at the stories Stan Meidinger would tell me of their high school days and then cornering Ron nad getting his side is just the greatest. Thanks for the idea on the website. I will think about it. I am sure I probably will put one up.
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