Another Surgery For Mom
Mom was back in the hospital that summer for another operation.
Steven and I stayed with relatives in Newark for two weeks. He stayed with Nana, and then Uncle Johnny. I spent the entire time at Aunt Marietta’s.
That’s where I received quite the education with my (well into adulthood) cousins living there.
“Disco Nights” by GQ
Bright Lights, Big City
Donna and Johnine brought me downtown where they smoked substances of varying grades. I called it “a new kind of cigarette”—new to me, anyway.
I tried a Marlboro, and didn’t care for the taste, but learned how to roll the new kind of cigarette using special paper and a sprinkling of the “stuff.”
I felt a sense of daring and nonconformity atypical of a squeaky-clean honor-roll student like myself. However, it was way too exciting to protest, “Hey guys … I’m TWELVE!”
Aunt Marietta was on a church retreat in Atlantic City for a few days. Uncle Bobby wasn’t around much as he spent much of his day at Budweiser, where he worked.
One night, Johnine opened a bottle of Uncle Bobby’s wine. We were sitting at the kitchen table while she was on the phone with her boyfriend, Dino.
I ended up getting so blitzed that I was picking up Mickey, their dog and dancing around singing like a buffoon.
Aunt Marietta returned from the retreat that night (a day earlier than planned) to find me on the sofa, positively green.
She had brought me a little token from her trip, a bottle of Skinny Dip cologne. When she saw my condition, she asked me what the matter was. I said it was probably something I ate. I covered for my cousin, but I think my aunt smelled a rat.
I was laid up the next day on Johnine’s bed with a bucket on the floor. Wine, meet Lori. It did not end well.
On a more wholesome note, I designed a puppet show out of paper and a manila folder and had fun playing with it in their dining room.
Some time after that, my mother found out what happened by reading my diary. She promptly dialed my aunt and there were due repercussions for the gross irresponsibility demonstrated on my behalf. I never stayed at Aunt Marietta’s again, though I wanted to. It really was a fun time.
Mom was discharged from the hospital, and she and Dad came to Newark to retrieve us from our two-week stay. By then, Dad had traded the ’74 red Caddy for a ’76 blue Coupe DeVille with the square headlights. I loved the new car!
On the drive home, I remember Mom and Dad held hands on the console in the new Caddy. I believe they must have been feeling some sense of hope and togetherness following her latest operation.
“Dancer” by Gino Soccio
Do Ya Think I’m Sexy by Rod Stewart, Too Hot by Kool and the Gang, I Was Made for Lovin’ You by Kiss, September by Earth, Wind & Fire, and No Tell Lover by Chicago (a goodie) were popular on the radio that summer.
Joan, Leslie and I spent a lot of time together. Once, they went on a trip to see family in Maine. They all piled in their dad’s Datsun F-10.
We went to the pool (Dallenbach’s) quite a bit, and visited each other’s houses. I thought it was so cool how they had the master bedroom for themselves, with its cute dormer. Their parents took the room downstairs, which used to be the Garfinkels’ porch, but was eventually closed in.
Blossom, their Siamese cat, had a pretty face and would whisper by as we listened to music and hung out.
Eighth Grade
That school year began uneventfully, and that was the year I read Roots and Gone with the Wind. I finished Roots by November, and watched the mini-series after school on the ABC 4:30 Movie. Mom later took me to see Gone With the Wind at the Rutgers Student Center. To this day I prefer to read the book before seeing the movie.
Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough by Michael Jackson was big, the first of many hits from his Off The Wall album.
I was in Mrs. Berndt’s homeroom, and became friends with Pam S, Anne A, Beth J and a bunch of others. We all palled around together. It was a nice clique of good kids.
I had an art teacher named Mr. Cerrito. I recall one assignment in which we had to design a home interior using perspective and a vanishing point. I created an ultra-modern sunken living room. Mr. Cerrito was known for saying “no rush slop jobs!”
Another teacher, Mr. Alusik, taught science had a collection of polished rocks. He gave me an onyx pendant on a necklace, which I wore in my class picture. I also drew some science-oriented posters for his classroom.
My English teacher, Mr. Acito, was a sweet guy. I was gratified when he allowed me to do a written report in lieu of a speech. He also played Hangman on the board using new words, two of which were “propensity” and “procrastinate” and popular song titles. He also taught us the difference between Its and It’s.
BJ McKay and His Best Friend Bear
A new show, BJ and the Bear, premiered Saturdays that fall. It took just one look at hunky Greg Evigan and I was done for.
My “CHiPs” poster quickly was retired and replaced by a large glossy image of BJ.
“Boogie Wonderland” by Earth, Wind and Fire
Earth Wind and Fire – Boogie Wonderland
I’d walk to the Somerset Farms convenience store (now Krauszer’s) to hunt for issues of Tiger Beat and Teen Beat with his picture. I was a little annoyed that almost every one included Sam the chimp. This was sort of reminiscent of my earlier quests for shots of Larry Wilcox without Erik Estrada, in which I was mostly unsuccessful.
A New BFF
I met a new girl on the bus, a 7th grader. We would have been in the same grade had it not been for my testing in a year early. Tracy H and I became instant friends, and would hang out at each other’s houses (just a few blocks apart).
When Tracy came to visit, she was rather bold with perusing the contents of our refrigerator, which I personally didn’t mind but immediately set Mom on edge. I was told that unless Tracy could behave properly in our house, she would no longer be permitted to come over.
Naturally, my childish shortsightedness somewhat limited my judgment and we disagreed about it, but Mom rightfully had the final say on the matter.
I spent a lot of time with Tracy at her house and on her paper route. I would bring my boom box along and crank my latest favorites, and we would belt out Billy Joel’s Still Rock ‘n Roll to Me at the tops of our voices.
I went swimming at her house (she had the most gorgeous pool), and we sneaked into her parents’ bedroom to watch the Playboy Channel on cable.
We also walked up to Somerset Farms and stuffed bubble gum into the deep pockets of our winter coats, slinking out sans the benefit of a receipt. I was having too much fun to feel guilty. (I certainly do now.)
I hoarded grape Bubble Yum and strawberry Bubblelicious in my desk at home. I loved Tracy’s bedroom, cozy with a color TV, despite its being smaller than mine.
“Love You Inside And Out” by The Bee Gees
Bee Gees – Love You Inside and Out
Sleepovers were a blast; I think one time we made cookies in the middle of the night and pizza rolls or something.
Years later, Tracy and I would hit the clubs during my college breaks to drink and pick up cute guys … never mind we were not of legal drinking age. We had such fun whenever we hung out.
The “Big 1-3”
Mom and Dad did make sure my 13th was special even though we all knew Granddaddy was getting very sick (now I was a teenager!). We went to Benihana of Tokyo in the Short Hills area, for hibachi food. I got my first camera, a Kodak 110 as a gift. That night began my pictorial chronology that has continued to the present.
Rock with You by Michael Jackson, Ladies’ Night by Kool and the Gang and Enough is Enough by Barbra Streisand and Donna Summer take me back to that time.
“Rock With You” by Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson – Rock With You
A Sad Farewell To Granddaddy
Granddaddy’s leukemia had returned full tilt by then, and he was soon hospital-bound.
He passed away one frigid night just days following my 13th birthday. Big John, King of Colden Street, full of love and generosity, known and loved by many, and strong as a bull for most of his life, was gone. It was an emotional blow to all of us.
He’d never call me “his little doll” again. My adolescent heart broke when we entered the viewing room at the funeral home with Nana. She cried and cried. My poor little brother was in tears and turned to hug Dad by the casket.
It was a very stressful day and I ended up with one of my migraines. Later, as everyone gathered at Aunt Marietta’s, I lay upstairs in her bed trying to rest and hide from all the sadness.
