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.<\/p>\n
And – as always – like so many of my high school entries do – it ends at the roller rink.<\/p>\n
All of life leads to the roller rink.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/i>] 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!!<\/i>] 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>] I hopped in the car going, “Oh, my grown-up friend!!”<\/p>\n
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.<\/i>] It sounds so wicked. [hahahahaha<\/i>]<\/p>\n
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?<\/i>]<\/p>\n
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>] I felt pretty. I had on my ‘generic jeans’ [I can’t remember why I called them that<\/i>], my grey pink and white bowler shirt [Member the whole Stray Cats-inspired 1950s fashion craze? I was so into it.<\/i>], my black piano tie [Oh my God. That is the most embarrassing thing I have ever heard in my life<\/i>], 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.<\/i>] For once I looked in the mirror and liked what I saw. Shivers!<\/p>\n
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.<\/i>] Honestly. Funk degrades the word ‘music’. [WHAT???? I so don’t feel that way now!! God, I was so HARSH about it!<\/i>] 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<\/u> 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!<\/i>]<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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>] I love antiheroes like Heathcliff. Better than those sappy guys [GOD, Sheila, again with the harsh judgment!!!<\/i>] 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>] I’d sit there, look at him like, “Oh God, who are you?” Now Heathcliff. There<\/u> is a man. (In spite of the fact that the actor playing him had his fly down for the entire first act.)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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, … Continue reading