A Year of Big-Screen Blockbusters
I enjoyed my open-on-the-top desk in Mrs. Greaux’s class.
A new girl, Barbara T, arrived about a month into the school year. I went to Mrs. Greaux and asked if I could move my desk next to Barbara’s so I could try to make her feel welcome and be her friend.
She and I palled around that year and even hung out sometimes after school.
“Hot Line” by the Sylvers
One time, there was a dance contest when you had to get a partner and choose a song and choreograph some sort of routine for our and Mr. Kelly’s classes.
Barbara picked out some boring oldie of her mom’s, Stoned Love by the Supremes. I, of course, would have preferred the popular song Hot Line (even Boogie Fever would have done it). Our “routine” sucked. My heart wasn’t in it and I knew it stunk.
Another time, we had to make papier-mache puppets and put on a show for the younger grades.
I made two dogs, a father and a son, out of paper bags, in the garage. Dad gave me the shellac to use. I wrote the play myself and presented it. I recall one line from the play: “Dad? Do dogs eat worms?”
Another day, Mrs. Greaux asked each of us to tell the class what kind of animal we wanted to be. Upon announcing that I wanted to be a deer, she piped up and criticized my choice.
“Why would you want to be a deer?! What about hunters? And cars on the roads?” I was confused. Why was my choice any riskier or objectionable than my classmates’—say, even those who wanted to be dogs, cats, rabbits or elephants, for that matter?
“Love Hangover” by Diana Ross
The 1976 election found me rooting for Jimmy Carter, and was happy one morning when Mom announced up the stairs, “Carter won!” We both cheered at the news. It was my first real emotional involvement in anything political, save for the times Cousin Ralph ran for NJ Governor.
The second time, in 1977, Ralph had the clear edge over Brendan Byrne in the primary.
Jim Florio threw his hat into the ring at the last minute, splitting the Italian vote. This provided Byrne a handy ticket to another 4 years in office. Marvin Gaye’s Got To Give It Up was popular at the time.
That fall, we went to Loews on Route 18 as a family to see the new version of King Kong with Jeff Bridges, and also Rocky.
Mom had gone to see Jaws, rated “R” with good reason, the previous year with Mrs. Schiffman.
“Sky High” by Jigsaw
For my 10th birthday, Nana gave me a grand piano jewelry music box that played Sunrise, Sunset (which I still have). We had a huge family party at Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlor at the Mall. We all shared a giant ice cream “Zoo”.
I also got a Fidget toy, Tricky Mickey Magic Colorforms, and a deer decanter for the Avon fragrance “Sweet Honesty” from my parents.
Mom & Dad: Santa?
Christmas 1976 was fun. “You Don’t Have To Be A Star” by Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. was popular. That day, we went up to Uncle Johnny’s new house in Fairfield. I had a blow-up reindeer, and remember the amazing cache of toys our cousins John, Gina and Peter had.
That was the year Steven and I got a little pinball machine. I believe that was also the year I got Baby Alive. Once the singular fascination of mixing up the gel-like “food” and kicking off the mechanical “eating – pooping” mechanism wore off, that was that.
Mom and Dad made every Christmas special; there was always a bounty under the tree. They didn’t go nuts achieving this, and we didn’t expect the priciest stuff at Toys ‘R Us either. That didn’t stop us from perusing the annual catalog; however, like every other kid in the known universe.
On Christmas morning, Steven and I would anxiously await the signal to come out of our rooms and go downstairs to see all the presents. We’d be up around 6 of course, and wait a couple of hours to hear the first stirrings from Mom and Dad’s bedroom.
The wait for them to go downstairs to put on the coffee, turn on the lights, and get the movie camera ready seemed to take eons.
When we heard “OK! Come on down!” we’d burst down the stairs, bathed in light from the Sun Gun as Dad took movies. Before us was always a beautiful array of presents on the floor surrounding the sparkly tree. Once Steven found a way to get down the stairs first, he took great pride in it.
Many a Christmas Eve, Mom and Dad would stay up late assembling everything for the big surprise. No WONDER they were always exhausted on Christmas morning!
“You Don’t have To Be a Star” by Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr.
Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr – You Don’t Have to Be a Star
I soon discovered that Santa Claus actually appeared in the form of Mom and Dad.
One time, when I got up to go to answer nature’s call, I peeked downstairs to see them on their hands and knees setting things up. The tree was half-assembled with no lights on it.
Feeling a sense of shame, let-down and scandal, I went back to bed and tried to forget what I saw … but appreciated their loving efforts to make things magical for us, no matter the time of night.
Looking back, it warms my heart to know that my mom and dad were always working so hard beyond the scope of my little kid’s world to ensure that I had the best growing-up experiences possible, despite any adult hardships they were dealing with. What amazing parents!
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