An entry from the summer in between my sophomore and junior year. It is August 8th. A day celebrated in Rhode Island as “Victory over Japan” day (VJ Day). I think we’re the only state who still celebrates it. Obviously, I was very upset about it. I go OFF on it. I am 15 years old.
And – as always – like so many of my high school entries do – it ends at the roller rink.
All of life leads to the roller rink.
August 8
Shitty VJ day. Let me state right now that I think VJ Day is a disgrace and it makes me so mad. I can’t stand it. We are celebrating a victory over a country that happened in the 40s? I mean, the whole state is on a holiday. It was 40 years ago. The poor Japanese in my neighborhood. In the whole state. They should at LEAST call it something else! I don’t hate the Japanese. Why should I? How can our state still hold this holiday? It makes me want to spit in someone’s face. Sure, 40 fuckin’ years ago I might have loved it, but now? Get over it. Get over it. People are terrible. And that is my statement for the day.
Kate called me this morning and invited me to go to Larkin’s Pond with her. So I said Yes, forgetting that Peg had just knocked on my door. [Ahem. This is was a euphemism for having your period – we all said “Peg is here to visit” when we had our period. “How’s Peg?” “Oh my GOD, she is being such a BITCH this month! And … well, I didn’t start using tampons til college. So I was out of luck before then on days I wanted to go swimming. Just in case you were wondering. I’m sure it’s thrilling information for you all to have.] Mum tried to tell me about tampons but I am like: NO! Those things are gross. [Oh boy. Sheila … you have no idea how happy you will be when you get over that … the freedom!! The joy!!] So I just put on my suit, and shorts, and Kate pulled up – That’s right. SHE WAS DRIVING. [Huge deal. Kate was the first one of us to drive, I believe. She drove her parents massive station wagon, which we all referred to as “The Boat”] I hopped in the car going, “Oh, my grown-up friend!!”
So she drove and we had a really nice time. It’s so peaceful there. Kate just went to NYC and saw Amadeus! Mark Hamill had just left 2 weeks before. But she said it was really really good. And David Birney was the best – he cried and stuff. [Yes. The mark of a good actor? Tears. That’s it. Tears.] It sounds so wicked. [hahahahaha]
Then back home – it was so Augusty. I sat out on the backsteps with my radio and a bag of corn, and I shucked the corn, listening to music. It was such a summery thing! Shucking under the azure sky! [What are you, Willa Cather?]
Then at 7, we drove off to pick up Michele, Mere, Beth, and Kate to go roller skating. [Betsy – why weren’t you with us??] I felt pretty. I had on my ‘generic jeans’ [I can’t remember why I called them that], my grey pink and white bowler shirt [Member the whole Stray Cats-inspired 1950s fashion craze? I was so into it.], my black piano tie [Oh my God. That is the most embarrassing thing I have ever heard in my life], and my penny loafers. I had on a little mascara and this wicked pink lipstick that’s more of a plum color with undertones of blue. [For God’s sake.] For once I looked in the mirror and liked what I saw. Shivers!
Roller skating was a waste of money. First of all, there were about thirty people there and the disc jockey only played funk. [hahahahaha. I’m sorry. I’m killing myself right now. Like … I am JUDGING funk.] Honestly. Funk degrades the word ‘music’. [WHAT???? I so don’t feel that way now!! God, I was so HARSH about it!] I’m serious – in another year it’s gonna die and no one will ever admit to liking it, same as disco. But now – we must have asked him 20 times for some Police, or Missing Persons, Devo or the Go-Gos – Diary, he didn’t know who the Go-Gos were. That dorky asshole said, “I don’t know about any music but funk.” What a jerk! He said he takes requests, but he didn’t play one of the songs we asked him to. That made me mad. One of the reasons I go is cause it’s like a dance — a chance to go and listen to good music. It’s not fun unless a song you like comes on. What was one song? He had no Adam Ant, he only had one Police album – but it wasn’t even taken out of the wrapper. He was such a loser. Anyone who likes funk is a loser. [!!!!! I cannot believe the vehemence!!! I have no memory of being in such a RAGE about funk!]
It is now 12:45 a.m. At 1:00 a.m. there is a documentary on about James Dean, and I’m staying up for it. I will prop my eyes open to see him.
Oh, and tomorrow I’m gonna ride my bike up to the library to take out Wuthering Heights! [I had just seen a play of it – and had not read the book yet, apparently] I love antiheroes like Heathcliff. Better than those sappy guys [GOD, Sheila, again with the harsh judgment!!!] who go on their knees and cry, “My love! You are the sun! The Moon! The Rain! Without you, my life is an empty shell!” [Uhm, think you’re settin’ up a straw man here, Sheila. Who actually talks like that?] I’d sit there, look at him like, “Oh God, who are you?” Now Heathcliff. There is a man. (In spite of the fact that the actor playing him had his fly down for the entire first act.)
HAHAHAHAHAHA – Watch out, George Clinton – there’s an irate Rhode Island redhead out to get ya!
God, I know – like … to not like funk is fine, but then to say: “If you like funk, you’re a loser” – what?????
I was just mad because he hadn’t heard of the Go Gos, my favorite band ever.
But still … I was just laughing at how UPSET I got!
dear god! the fly part!!! lmfao.
hahaha I know. I suppose the fact that I overlooked it is testament to his powerful performance!!
I love the (In spite of the fact that the actor playing him had his fly down for the entire first act.). That was fantasitc, or perhaps because of … ?
Somewhere, a bass player is crying becuase he read your vehemence on funk.
cullen – hahahahahahaha
Once I hit college, I totally changed my funk tune. But God … to be so angry about funk??? hahahaha
Lord, Sheila — the piano keys tie!?! I’m laughing so hard. We had a guy in our high school drama dept. with the piano keys tie and a kicky beret. Did you also sport the kicky beret?
I hear that makes the outfit.
Oh, and the fly! Too much. Remember my story of Michael, the lumbering giant obsessed with me? Well, at one point, I remember making a conscious effort to have less contempt for him, to at least try.
One night onstage, he was supposed to sit spread-eagled on the floor. I was in the booth, watching (I think I was Tech Director or something?), and there he sat … onstage … with his ridiculous booming voice … with his thunderous thighs and too-tight pants … AND with a big ol’ RIP in the crotch of his pants, thanks, I’m sure, to the thunderous thighs and too-tight pants.
And all my contempt came rushing back like a flood.
God help me, but in that momenet, I knew I could never, EVER love him.
Uh, “moment.”
tracey – the piano tie is a deeply shameful fashion moment in my history.
Why were they popular??? I was just following a trend … but oh … to what cost???
Oh and Tracey:
“making a conscious effort to have less contempt for him” is not really a firm basis for a future relationship … hahahahaha
You had to walk away from giant man.
So true, Sheila, SO true.
I didn’t often get to the roller rink – I think I was always doing camp stuff on weekends – I was the camp snob…
Sheila- the whole funk hating thing…I think it was Peg talking..
mere – oh, you are SO RIGHT!!
betsy – oh, that’s right – it was summer, so of course – camp!!
ah, the go gos – now there was a band I have all thier albums (not cds mind you actual albums), who remembers Missing Persons? Kim Wilde? Berlin?
the motels? I am guessing this is around 82-83 and those days are hazy but there was some good music – back when MTV actually played videos.
The Motels!!
only the lonely – what a great song
suddenly last summer – I think i saw those videos a million times between MTV and the video show on NBC – I think it was called Night flights or something like that
Friday Night Videos???
was it friday night videos?? Its hard to reach that far back in the mind – but since we did not have cable right away it was the only way to see videos – Eurythmics is also imprinted on my brain I saw it so many times
I remember a lot of Duran Duran on those video shows.. I think I remember Night Flights too-it was on much later at night, though.
Hey-what about 99 red balloons…
hahahaha yup!
you can never forget 99 red balloons, the anti nuclear war imagery. Duran Duran so racy in the day and now – so dated I guess.
yeah, their “war paint” in Hungry like the wolf … and that random woman moaning in the background … John Taylor running through the 3rd world streets with his shirt open and a HEADBAND on … He was my favorite.
I remember the first time I saw the Duran Duran “Wild Boys” video, I thought, “This is the hottest thing I’ve ever seen!” Now it’s beYOND tame.
Well,the music might have sucked, but at least there was no shoving and pushing upon the rink floor, this time!