And this one time? At band camp?
Later in the month, I got to hop on one of four cruiser buses to Band Camp at Camp Lohikan at Lake Como, Pa. I was finally a SNARE DRUMMER!
We all had so much fun goofing on the bus. This camp was a great setup of cabins in a big circle, a field for practice, and other features such as a dining hall and pavilion for shows.
“Pressure” by Billy Joel
At camp, horn player Steve K kissed me after we had wacky “chicken fights” at night with another couple.
Life in our cabin was a blast, and Glen W, a triples player in the line, was a real wacko who kept us laughing with his psycho impression of Sting’s Roxanne.
Anne, my friend from orchestra in junior high, was part of the Color Guard (flag corps). Anne was always a “nice people” magnet and remains so.
All summer, we’d been practicing music a couple of evenings a week, and I had my own official snare drum. I was now a solid part of the Drumline, and the social possibilities with this great group of kids were limitless. I quickly memorized the new opener, “El Tigre.”
A sophomore, Maureen (a.k.a. Mo), had been taking drum lessons since 5th grade but was on cymbals for this season.
Mo and I became friends; she was an attendant in my wedding party years later, and has a heart of gold. We’re good friends today, as are our husbands.
Mike (the load) dropped out of the marching band that year. I suppose the sight of his ex figuratively flipping him off from behind the snare drum was enough to keep his arrogant, pompous, sexist derrière out of the picture. That was just fine by me, enjoying my freedom to sample the buffet of gourmet prime cuts in the deli case. And sample I did.
Popular on the radio were Heart Attack by Olivia Newton-John, Mickey by Toni Basil, Pressure by Billy Joel, and Steppin’ Out by Joe Jackson.
“Time (Clock Of the Heart)” by Culture Club
Culture Club – Time (Clock Of the Heart)
Farewell to Uncle Johnny
The beginning of junior year brought terrible news to our family. Uncle Johnny suddenly passed away of a massive heart attack. Dad was absolutely devastated.
We missed the first two days of school as we numbly went through those funeral-related obligations. I felt awful for Cousins Gina, John and Peter. I was too young to comprehend the haunting sadness Aunt Maryann must have experienced. Poor Nana was beside herself in grief at the loss of her youngest child. It was a horrible time for all of us.
Dad was six years older than Uncle Johnny. His little brother shadowed him constantly during childhood, annoying Dad most of the time. Once, at age twelve, Dad was going to spend some time with his neighborhood buddies, but Uncle Johnny begged to be taken to see the re-released King Kong at the movies. Nana implored Dad to take him, “But he’s your brother!” Preteen Dad scowled and said “Aw, c’mon,” grabbing Johnny by the hand.
Later that evening they were on their way home from the movies to find out that there had been a fire where Dad and his friends would catch a smoke and hang out. One kid had apparently tossed a lit match into the refuse, and the celluloid stored there immediately ignited. Some who had gathered that evening were injured. Several of them, including Dad’s friend Carmine, ended up with severe burns.
At the scene, one woman in the crowd saw Dad and pointed, shouting furiously, “There’s the ringleader! HE should have been hurt too!” Enraged, Nana went after her in ferocious Italian.
Dad then gazed down at his little brother, staring up at him with wide innocent eyes, and was suddenly grateful he’d been forced to take him to the movies.
As adults, Dad and Uncle Johnny were very close, the latter was a Newark cop who would wave as Dad drove by in his rig. He’d always said he had a soft spot for truckers.
“Eye Of the Tiger” by Survivor
A late school start
We began school a few days after everyone else, but got up to speed quickly. My homeroom teacher was dashing, young Mr. Caseire, who also taught my Sociology class.
I was still walking to school from Old Bridge Turnpike, down Arthur Street, across Route 18, and past the shopping center.
And who should assume the position of Orchestra Conductor at the high school that year but …?
Right again. Gordon J. T. I’d had him for Orchestra in junior high, as a director at regionals, a private teacher, and as administration at ASTA. This guy was everywhere.
That was about the time when Mom decided to indulge my request for a tropical fish tank. We got a 10-gallon starter kit at the mall, set it up in the living room, conditioned the water, and a few days later went back for our first batch of pretty fish.
We would watch the fish in the evenings, and learned some things about the different types. Among our new finny family: neon tetras, catfish, blood swordtails, angel fish, and Siamese fighting fish.
We named the Siamese “Alexis” after the fiery character on the evening soap Dynasty. It was fun to watch it start to ruffle itself when a little mirror was placed next to the tank. Always a learning experience with Mom. We loved the little lighthouse that had the little circulating plastic particles in its top.
I was always busy, in and out of school, with rehearsals, lessons, family and social opportunities. Mom later said that I really blossomed in high school, which isn’t a tough thing to do with so many fun people around. I again auditioned for, and made, Central Jersey Region II Orchestra.
Late that year, our 1973 Mercury Marquis was stolen from the parking lot at Ferro Trucking while Dad was out driving for the day. That happened just before Christmas, and unfortunately, all our presents had been temporarily stowed in the back seat. Not only did Mom and Dad have to shift to get another car (a ’75 Eldorado), but they had to start from scratch with Christmas.
Dad kicked himself for that one.
Sweet Sixteen
Mom and Dad took us up to Benihana of Tokyo for another celebratory hibachi dinner when I turned 16 that November. I went to a few “sweet sixteen” parties within the span of several months.
Katsoudas Kalamity
By that time, we had the two Cadillacs (’76 Coupe and a ’75 Eldorado).
It was an icy morning, and Dad was driving the Eldorado to work in Hillside. As he came over the bridge, some overconfident, careless jerk took a corner way too fast, lost control and collided with Dad’s left front fender. That car bounced and spun on the ice to the other side of the road. The Eldorado barely jiggled.
They moved their cars out of traffic and the cops were called for a report. Dad had to leave the scene so he could get to work on time. In retrospect, he believes they should have left the vehicles as-is because otherwise, it was difficult to prove who was at fault.
Apparently, Katsoudas told the officer that Dad was “partially on the wrong side of the road”, which was an absolute fabrication.
Dad later managed to get telling information from the DMV about this guy and his deplorable driving record with dozens of traffic infractions. To Dad’s chagrin, it was all inadmissible in court.
Katsoudas insisted on no personal wrongdoing, there were no witnesses, and the outcome of that court case angered us for years. Dad ended up having to pony up 50% for of the repair costs on that technicality.
Classic songs from the first half of junior year include Maneater by Hall & Oates, Rock the Casbah by The Clash, Africa by Toto, Down Under by Men at Work, Allentown by Billy Joel and You Got Lucky by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
“You Should Hear How She Talks About You” by Melissa Manchester
Melissa Manchester – You Should Hear How She Talks About You
Being a snare drummer in the marching band was exhilarating. I thoroughly enjoyed practices after school and on game days, performances at pre-game and halftime, parades and competitions. Pep rallies in the school gym were so much fun. I was completely involved, and over the moon.
Mom brought me to see the famous violinist Itzhak Perlman in concert at Rutgers. He was absolutely phenomenal, and I even got his autograph on my program.
She always snagged the chance to enjoy special events and since I was involved with music, this was a wonderful opportunity. This was another example in a long line of “Memories” she strove to make, just as Grandmommy had done with her.
Spring Things
The following spring, the much-hyped final episode of the TV series M*A*S*H hit the small screen. Anne hosted a party at her house, and some people decided to come dressed as the characters on the show.
My favorite “costume” from the evening was George W. as Father Mulcahy, a dead ringer if there ever was one. I’d hoped a cute guy, Jay would show, and he did—I still have a snapshot (courtesy of Anne) of him walking through the front door, tucked into my 1983 diary.
There were other social events like retreats with the church youth group, Walther League. We went to Camp Beisler and had fun with typical pranks, staying up late, and a few teen-oriented educational sessions of course. Sometimes we’d stop for ice cream at Buxton’s after a Sunday night gathering.
We also had dance-a-thon, volleyball-a-thon, and a car wash to raise money for things I can’t recall now. I also enjoyed going to the church Christmas bazaars with Mom, and baked cakes for them. We also sold crepes at the Fair.
This was also around the time when I started to play with the Imperial Symphony Orchestra in South River. Rehearsals were once a week in the evenings, and the concert would be on a Sunday afternoon. I was in first violin, but I wished I could play in the percussion section.
I got to play snare in the Memorial Day Parade. It had been a long winter, and I was aching to get started with the band again. After three miles beginning on Harts Lane, we cadenced to the Municipal center. Mom and Dad took movies when we played Aztec Fire at the reviewing stand. My heart burst with joy at the applause.
