{"id":67,"date":"2011-06-05T15:23:03","date_gmt":"2011-06-05T19:23:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/?page_id=67"},"modified":"2026-04-02T11:55:39","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T15:55:39","slug":"chapter-10-revelation-farewell-grade-school","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/?page_id=67","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 10: Revelation; Farewell Grade School"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3>A Creative Streak<\/h3>\n<table border=\"0\" width=\"300\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"5\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td rowspan=\"2\" width=\"60\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" size-full wp-image-9464 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/musicnotes-tiny.gif\" alt=\"musicnotes-tiny\" width=\"50\" height=\"auto\" \/><\/td>\n<td width=\"414\"><strong>Love Is Thicker Than Water<br \/>\n<\/strong>Andy Gibb<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><a id=\"mbmaplayer_1375886788807\" class=\"{skin:'black', animate:false, width:'120', volume:0.2, autoplay:false, loop:false, showVolumeLevel:true, showTime:true, showRew:true, downloadable:false, downloadablesecurity:false, id3: false}\" href=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Andy-Gibb-Love-Is-Thicker-Than-Water.mp3\">Andy Gibb &#8211; Love Is Thicker Than Water<\/a><textarea class=\"map_params\" style=\"display: block; padding: 3px; background: #444; color: #fff; text-decoration: none;\" disabled=\"disabled\">map :: {skin:&#8217;black&#8217;, animate:false, width:&#8217;120&#8242;, volume:0.2, autoplay:false, loop:false, showVolumeLevel:true, showTime:true, showRew:true, downloadable:false, downloadablesecurity:false, id3: false}<\/textarea><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<figure id=\"attachment_2288\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2288\" style=\"width: 400px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2288\" title=\"Spotlight on Education, June 1978\" src=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/spotlight-on-education-feat.jpg\" alt=\"spotlight-on-education-feature\" width=\"400\" height=\"747\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/spotlight-on-education-feat.jpg 500w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/spotlight-on-education-feat-160x300.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-2288\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Spotlight On Education feature<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Since I enjoyed writing and illustrating stories,<\/strong> I had made a short book about a fifth-grade boy, inspired by the popular Judy Blume series of books.<\/p>\n<p>Mrs. Coady read this to the class for a couple of days, and I was really surprised and gratified to know that the kids actually liked it.\u00a0She encouraged my creative writing by sending me to a workshop at Princeton University.<\/p>\n<p>She also arranged to display my artwork in the big glass cases lining the wall in the entry of the school, their first-ever \u201cOne Woman Show.\u201d Included were my sketches and paintings, and I received quite a lot of attention as a result.<\/p>\n<p>I entered a couple of the illustrations into the art exhibit at the Middlesex County Fair, and won second place for one of them.<\/p>\n<p>I also recall participating in a couple of school events at which I drew caricatures, and earned a little money. My personal experience as a &#8220;professional&#8221; artist pretty much ended there, but it was a lot of fun, and Mom made me feel good about earning a few dollars.<\/p>\n<p>One day, I heard I was to be featured in the district\u2019s periodical on the East Brunswick Public Schools, <em>Spotlight on Education. <\/em>I was interviewed with my art teacher, Mr. Burik, and we were photographed in the art room (pictured above). Mom saved several copies for family and friends.<\/p>\n<p>Years later, when I was in college, I visited the high school. Mr. Burik was teaching there by then, and asked me to speak to the class. I forget what I said, but I hope it was encouraging for the students.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_15937\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-15937\" style=\"width: 1367px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-15937\" src=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/showcase-chittick-600x261.jpg\" alt=\"Showcase at Chittick\" width=\"1367\" height=\"594\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/showcase-chittick-600x261.jpg 600w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/showcase-chittick-335x146.jpg 335w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/showcase-chittick-768x334.jpg 768w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/showcase-chittick.jpg 890w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-15937\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The showcase where my work appeared in 6th grade<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Also, every year between fourth grade and sixth, I was a contributor to <em>Kid Stuff,<\/em> a publication including drawings and written blurbs by East Brunswick elementary school students.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_9908\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-9908\" style=\"width: 1136px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-9908\" src=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/1974coupedeville.jpg\" alt=\"1974 Coupe DeVille - our next Caddy\" width=\"1136\" height=\"531\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/1974coupedeville.jpg 555w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/1974coupedeville-300x140.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-9908\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">1974 Coupe DeVille &#8211; our next Caddy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The teacher across from us was Mr. Bryn, and he had a giant red and blue cardboard 3-D biplane hanging from the ceiling.\u00a0Years later, we heard with sadness that Mr. Bryn and his wife were lost in a car accident. His kids were also sat for with us at the Nearys&#8217;. A terrible turn of events.<\/p>\n<p>I was in Girl Scouts, but wouldn\u2019t advance up to \u201cCadette\u201d standing. I was becoming more involved with music, and lessons and orchestra increasingly required my spare time. Violin lessons at school continued, and I was in the beginners\u2019 orchestra concert at the high school, directed by Darlene Morrow, whose love for teaching and music were obvious.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/musicnotes-tiny.gif\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-9464 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/musicnotes-tiny.gif\" alt=\"musicnotes-tiny\" width=\"50\" height=\"61\" \/><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Take A Chance On Me<br \/>\n<\/strong>ABBA<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"mbmaplayer_1375805736439\" class=\"{skin:'black', animate:false, width:'120', volume:0.2, autoplay:false, loop:false, showVolumeLevel:true, showTime:true, showRew:true, downloadable:false, downloadablesecurity:false, id3: false}\" href=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/ABBA-Take-A-Chance-On-Me.mp3\">ABBA &#8211; Take A Chance On Me<\/a><textarea class=\"map_params\" style=\"display: block; padding: 3px; background: #444; color: #fff; text-decoration: none;\" disabled=\"disabled\">map :: {skin:&#8217;black&#8217;, animate:false, width:&#8217;120&#8242;, volume:0.2, autoplay:false, loop:false, showVolumeLevel:true, showTime:true, showRew:true, downloadable:false, downloadablesecurity:false, id3: false}<\/textarea><\/p>\n<p>Miss Lupinsky, a visiting string teacher, would give us lessons a couple of days a week in a small room down the hall.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_2005\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2005\" style=\"width: 335px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2005\" src=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/saturday-night-fever.jpg\" alt=\"Saturday Night Fever album cover\" width=\"335\" height=\"345\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/saturday-night-fever.jpg 486w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/saturday-night-fever-291x300.jpg 291w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 335px) 100vw, 335px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-2005\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">We were too young to see the &#8220;R&#8221; movie, but the soundtrack was everywhere.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>One time, Tina K left her cello bow on the floor and I stepped on it by mistake. I felt bad about that, though it really had been an accident waiting to happen.<\/p>\n<p>During that year, I also volunteered to read to the kindergarteners in the school library.<\/p>\n<p>I also spent some time with Darla and Howie, two Down Syndrome kids, keeping them company during lunchtime in the cafeteria.<\/p>\n<p>The <em>Saturday Night Fever<\/em> soundtrack broke forth like wildfire.\u00a0Favorite songs include <em>If I Can\u2019t Have You<\/em> by Yvonne Elliman, <em>Grease is the Word<\/em> by Frankie Valli, and the Bee Gees\u2019 hits from the movie flooded my consciousness. I especially liked <em>More Than a Woman<\/em> by Tavares.<\/p>\n<p>The movie <em>Grease<\/em> was also hot, with that soundtrack getting equal airtime, though I didn&#8217;t really care for any of that music. It seemed that John Travolta, whether sporting &#8217;50s Brylcreem or disco mojo, was <em>everywhere<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>That spring of \u201978,<em> Ebony Eyes<\/em> by Bob Welch, <em>Runnin\u2019 on Empty<\/em> by Jackson Browne, <em>Thunder Island<\/em> by Jay Ferguson, <em>Flash Light<\/em> by Parliament, <em>I&#8217;m Every Woman<\/em> by Chaka Khan, <em>Peg<\/em> by Steely Dan, and <em>Dust in the Wind<\/em> by Kansas were popular.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/musicnotes-tiny.gif\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-9464 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/musicnotes-tiny.gif\" alt=\"musicnotes-tiny\" width=\"50\" height=\"61\" \/><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong> Ebony Eyes<br \/>\n<\/strong>Bob Welch<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"mbmaplayer_1375805774648\" class=\"{skin:'black', animate:false, width:'120', volume:0.2, autoplay:false, loop:false, showVolumeLevel:true, showTime:true, showRew:true, downloadable:false, downloadablesecurity:false, id3: false}\" href=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Bob-Welch-Ebony-Eyes.mp3\">Bob Welch &#8211; Ebony Eyes<\/a><textarea class=\"map_params\" style=\"display: block; padding: 3px; background: #444; color: #fff; text-decoration: none;\" disabled=\"disabled\">map :: {skin:&#8217;black&#8217;, animate:false, width:&#8217;120&#8242;, volume:0.2, autoplay:false, loop:false, showVolumeLevel:true, showTime:true, showRew:true, downloadable:false, downloadablesecurity:false, id3: false}<\/textarea><\/p>\n<h3>Camp Fairview<\/h3>\n<p>In May, I went with the sixth grade to <a title=\"Fairview Lake Camps\" href=\"http:\/\/www.metroymcas.org\/fairview-lake-ymca\/fairview-lake-ymca-camps\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Camp Fairview<\/a> in Stillwater, NJ for a week. All 6 elementary schools in East Brunswick were bussed to the Kittatinny Mountains one Friday afternoon, and we stayed in the cabins.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_15932\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-15932\" style=\"width: 952px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-15932\" src=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Fairview-600x274.png\" alt=\"Fairview Lake Camp\" width=\"952\" height=\"435\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Fairview-600x274.png 600w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Fairview-335x153.png 335w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Fairview-768x351.png 768w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Fairview.png 794w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-15932\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fairview Lake<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>We had all the typical activities such as crafts, science (I dissected a frog with Paul T that week), square dancing, campfire songs, eating in the mess hall, and swimming and boating in the lake.<\/p>\n<p>Thanks to Dad, I had plenty of Kraft &#8220;Fudgies&#8221; and &#8220;Caramels&#8221; to share with my cabin mates. I got a ton of points for that. Since there were no TVs, I mourned the night I missed \u201cCHiPs\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>The day I got back, the family picked me up and we all went for dinner at Victoria Station, a train-themed eatery where the Olive Garden now stands on Route 18.<\/p>\n<h3>Revelation<\/h3>\n<p>One warm day, toward the end of sixth grade, I was kneeling and facing backward on a folding chair in the gym\/cafeteria before an assembly, gazing at the back doors, open to the June breezes.<\/p>\n<p>I was in a reflective mood and remember my thoughts as if it were yesterday:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><em>I\u2019m starting junior high in the fall, and leaving this school. I\u2019ll be 12 in November. Time is passing quickly \u2026 some day I\u2019ll be an adult. I wonder what it will be like as a grown-up?<\/em><\/p>\n<p>I wistfully realized that I couldn\u2019t stop time and I WAS growing up, like it or not. Chittick School would soon be just a memory. It was probably my first personal awareness of inevitable change and mortality.<\/p>\n<p>I once asked Mom about growing up and she explained that becoming an adult happens so gradually that you don\u2019t realize it.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_15940\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-15940\" style=\"width: 946px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-15940\" src=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/ChittickConcert.png\" alt=\"Chittick School string concert\" width=\"946\" height=\"496\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/ChittickConcert.png 927w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/ChittickConcert-335x176.png 335w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/ChittickConcert-600x315.png 600w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/ChittickConcert-768x403.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-15940\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">String concert in the All-Purpose Room at the school I would soon leave (taken more recently)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/musicnotes-tiny.gif\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-9464 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/musicnotes-tiny.gif\" alt=\"musicnotes-tiny\" width=\"50\" height=\"61\" \/><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Grease Is The Word<br \/>\n<\/strong>Frankie Valli<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"mbmaplayer_1375805800042\" class=\"{skin:&#039;black&#039;, animate:false, width:&#039;120&#039;, volume:0.2, autoplay:false, loop:false, showVolumeLevel:true, showTime:true, showRew:true, downloadable:false, downloadablesecurity:false, id3: false}\" href=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Frankie-Valli-Grease-Is-The-Word.mp3\">Frankie Valli &#8211; Grease Is The Word<\/a><textarea class=\"map_params\" style=\"display: block; padding: 3px; background: #444; color: #fff; text-decoration: none;\" disabled=\"disabled\">map :: {skin:&#8217;black&#8217;, animate:false, width:&#8217;120&#8242;, volume:0.2, autoplay:false, loop:false, showVolumeLevel:true, showTime:true, showRew:true, downloadable:false, downloadablesecurity:false, id3: false}<\/textarea><\/p>\n<p><em>Boogie Oogie Oogie<\/em> by A Taste of Honey, <em>Bad Girls<\/em> by Donna Summer, <em>Thank God It\u2019s Friday<\/em> by Love \u2018n Kisses, and <em>With a Little Luck<\/em> by Paul McCartney were popular as I forever left my elementary school experiences behind.<\/p>\n<p>That summer, we hunted for tadpoles in a lake in South River and rode bikes to Blimpie\u2019s on Route 18 for snacks and then up to Brunswick Square Mall to play in the arcade. I watched \u201cCHiPs\u201d devotedly, and hung out with Joan and Leslie. I began my daily diary (which I still keep today) on August 5, and on August 8 made a notation that it was Larry Wilcox\u2019s birthday. That has also continued until the present.<\/p>\n<p>I was NUTS for the song <em>Copacabana<\/em> by Barry Manilow, and repeatedly went next door to Leslie\u2019s to hear it on their stereo. Good thing Mr. and Mrs. \u201cFaz\u201d seemingly didn\u2019t mind the intrusion!<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_6604\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6604\" style=\"width: 335px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-6604\" title=\"The very first Ben &amp; Jerry\u2019s scoop shop opens in 1978 in Burlington, VT\" src=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/ben-and-jerrys-logo-600x165.jpg\" alt=\"The very first Ben &amp; Jerry\u2019s scoop shop opens in 1978 in Burlington, VT\" width=\"335\" height=\"93\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/ben-and-jerrys-logo-600x165.jpg 600w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/ben-and-jerrys-logo-300x82.jpg 300w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/ben-and-jerrys-logo.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 335px) 100vw, 335px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-6604\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The very first Ben &amp; Jerry\u2019s scoop shop opens in 1978 in Burlington, VT<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The empty lot cat-a-corner from our house in back was cleared for a house to be built, and Libby\u2019s family moved in.\u00a0Steven and I really loved <em>The Groove Line<\/em> by Heatwave and stalked it on WABC.<\/p>\n<p>I also helped Dad a lot around the yard, with the push mower and the riding mower and with washing the cars. I just preferred outside work to household chores, to Mom&#8217;s displeasure. I was a tomboy and basked in it.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/musicnotes-tiny.gif\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-9464 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/musicnotes-tiny.gif\" alt=\"musicnotes-tiny\" width=\"50\" height=\"61\" \/><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>The Groove Line<br \/>\n<\/strong>Heatwave<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"mbmaplayer_1375805830603\" class=\"{skin:&#039;black&#039;, animate:false, width:&#039;120&#039;, volume:0.2, autoplay:false, loop:false, showVolumeLevel:true, showTime:true, showRew:true, downloadable:false, downloadablesecurity:false, id3: false}\" href=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Heatwave-The-Groove-Line-Extended.mp3\">Heatwave &#8211; The Groove Line (Extended)<\/a><textarea class=\"map_params\" style=\"display: block; padding: 3px; background: #444; color: #fff; text-decoration: none;\" disabled=\"disabled\">map :: {skin:&#8217;black&#8217;, animate:false, width:&#8217;120&#8242;, volume:0.2, autoplay:false, loop:false, showVolumeLevel:true, showTime:true, showRew:true, downloadable:false, downloadablesecurity:false, id3: false}<\/textarea><\/p>\n<p>I observed Dad doing oil changes and other types of maintenance on the cars, and he showed me how to do some basics. I learned how to check the tire pressure, oil, trans and reservoir levels, as well as how to refill those.\u00a0This knowledge would benefit me years later, when I maintained my first car down at WVU. No daughter of Dad\u2019s was going to end up the \u201ctypical woman driver\u201d!<\/p>\n<h3>Start of Daily Diary<\/h3>\n<p>On August 5, <span class=\"d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql lr9zc1uh a8c37x1j fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v b1v8xokw oo9gr5id\" dir=\"auto\">I started a diary that has continued every day since. Dad and I hung out together, we went to Nana&#8217;s house in our &#8217;74 Caddy, and our second road trip to Disney\/Daytona was just days away. I was nuts about Larry Wilcox of &#8220;CHiPs&#8221; and the songs, &#8220;If I Can&#8217;t Have You&#8221;, &#8220;Copacabana&#8221;, &#8220;Grease Is the Word&#8221;, and &#8220;Groove Line&#8221;.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_15922\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-15922\" style=\"width: 550px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-15922\" src=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/FirstDiary-493x600.jpg\" alt=\"First Diary Entry\" width=\"550\" height=\"669\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/FirstDiary-493x600.jpg 493w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/FirstDiary-247x300.jpg 247w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/FirstDiary-768x934.jpg 768w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/FirstDiary-1263x1536.jpg 1263w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/FirstDiary.jpg 1684w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-15922\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">First Diary Entry<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>Return to Disney World<\/h3>\n<p>Later in the summer of \u201978 found us heading for Disney World and Daytona again, but this time we brought Nana with us. We piled into the \u201974 Caddy, excited with memories from last time. (If it weren\u2019t for us, Dad\u2019s mother would never have gone anywhere.)<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_15930\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-15930\" style=\"width: 975px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-15930\" src=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/familyWDW2-600x431.png\" alt=\"Family at Disney World\" width=\"975\" height=\"701\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/familyWDW2-600x431.png 600w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/familyWDW2-335x240.png 335w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/familyWDW2-768x551.png 768w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/familyWDW2.png 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-15930\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hello from Walt Disney World! (Clip from home movie)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Andy Gibb\u2019s hits, <em>Shame<\/em> by Evelyn Champagne King and <em>Summer Nights<\/em> from <em>Grease<\/em> were popular.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/musicnotes-tiny.gif\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-9464 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/musicnotes-tiny.gif\" alt=\"musicnotes-tiny\" width=\"50\" height=\"61\" \/><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Copacabana<br \/>\n<\/strong>Barry Manilow<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"mbmaplayer_1375805863691\" class=\"{skin:&#039;black&#039;, animate:false, width:&#039;120&#039;, volume:0.2, autoplay:false, loop:false, showVolumeLevel:true, showTime:true, showRew:true, downloadable:false, downloadablesecurity:false, id3: false}\" href=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/Barry-Manilow-Copacabana.mp3\">Barry Manilow &#8211; Copacabana<\/a><textarea class=\"map_params\" style=\"display: block; padding: 3px; background: #444; color: #fff; text-decoration: none;\" disabled=\"disabled\">map :: {skin:&#8217;black&#8217;, animate:false, width:&#8217;120&#8242;, volume:0.2, autoplay:false, loop:false, showVolumeLevel:true, showTime:true, showRew:true, downloadable:false, downloadablesecurity:false, id3: false}<\/textarea><\/p>\n<p>We cooled our heels at Days Lodge in Kissimmee, in a really nice apartment with a kitchen.<\/p>\n<p>Mom pointed out that California&#8217;s Disneyland could fit into Walt Disney World&#8217;s parking lot and still fit 500 cars.<\/p>\n<p>We spent a day at River Country for water fun, and of course devoured the Magic Kingdom, enjoying another <em>Spirit of Aloha<\/em> Luau at the Polynesian Village. Mom even got up on stage to join the dancers, and dang if she didn&#8217;t hold her own!<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_6609\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6609\" style=\"width: 335px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-6609\" src=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/days-inn-suites.jpg\" alt=\"Days Inn &amp; Suites\" width=\"335\" height=\"180\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-6609\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">We loved the Days Lodge in Kissimmee<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>We were disappointed to realize that Space Mountain was closed for maintenance.<\/p>\n<p>When we made it to Daytona, we took a rare opportunity to drive right on the beach. We stayed at the top floor penthouse suite at the Oceanfront Days Inn.<\/p>\n<p>This was made possible because Mom went to the front desk to point out that our room didn&#8217;t have working air conditioning (a MUST in summer Florida). The agent shrugged and stated, &#8220;sorry; the only other room we have available is the penthouse&#8221;\u2014 to which Mom immediately replied, &#8220;We&#8217;ll take it.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>SCORE!<\/p>\n<p>This place was even more impressive than where we stayed in Kissimmee. It was a multi-room suite with living room, kitchen, bedroom, and pull-out sofas. And what a view!<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_15927\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-15927\" style=\"width: 836px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-15927\" src=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/WDWmap2-600x402.jpg\" alt=\"WDW Map 1978\" width=\"836\" height=\"561\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/WDWmap2-600x402.jpg 600w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/WDWmap2-335x224.jpg 335w, https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/WDWmap2-768x514.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 767px) 89vw, (max-width: 1000px) 54vw, (max-width: 1071px) 543px, 580px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-15927\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Walt Disney World 1978 Map<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>That week there were constant memorials for the first anniversary of Elvis Presley\u2019s passing.<\/p>\n<p>Coming back from that vacation, as we exited the Delaware Memorial Bridge, <em>Copacabana<\/em> was playing on WABC and we were all singing as Dad paid the toll: \u201c\u2026at the Copa\u2026 copa<em>BANANA!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It was hilarious \u2026 Dad was taking the movie, Mom was driving, Steven and I had our Mouse Ears on and were singing. Nana had her head back, resting, oblivious to it all. Priceless.<\/p>\n<p>Movies of Disney\/Daytona begin at 24:10.<\/p>\n<div title=\"Home Movie Montage #2\"><div class=\"wp-block-protected-video-protected-video\" data-id1=\"dmltZW8=\" data-id2=\"Njg0NzA3NjY2\"><\/div><\/div>\n<p><script src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/api\/player.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Vacation continues!<\/p>\n<div title=\"Home Movie Montage #2\"><div class=\"wp-block-protected-video-protected-video\" data-id1=\"dmltZW8=\" data-id2=\"Njg0NzE1NTY3\"><\/div><\/div>\n<p><script src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/api\/player.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a title=\"Chapter 11: The Junior High Jungle\" href=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/?page_id=199\">Chapter Eleven: The Junior High Jungle<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-13050\" src=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/drum-avatar-thumbnail-sm.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"75\" height=\"75\" \/> <a title=\"Return to Memoirs\" href=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/?page_id=13681\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Return to Chapters<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A Creative Streak Love Is Thicker Than Water Andy Gibb Andy Gibb &#8211; Love Is Thicker Than Watermap :: {skin:&#8217;black&#8217;, animate:false, width:&#8217;120&#8242;, volume:0.2, autoplay:false, loop:false, showVolumeLevel:true, showTime:true, showRew:true, downloadable:false, downloadablesecurity:false, id3: false} Since I enjoyed writing and illustrating stories, I had made a short book about a fifth-grade boy, inspired by the popular Judy Blume &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/?page_id=67\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;Chapter 10: Revelation; Farewell Grade School&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14225,"parent":4,"menu_order":11,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-67","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/67","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=67"}],"version-history":[{"count":41,"href":"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/67\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18022,"href":"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/67\/revisions\/18022"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/14225"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adrummergirlslife.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=67"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}