The movie came out in theaters in 1971. I was a tween. It had to be rated PG for my parents to allow me to see it with my BFF. I was completely taken aback by Robert Redford and Barbara Streisand’s breakup towards the end of the film. I think I was too young to understand all the forces behind their relationship. To me, love was everything you needed to make things work.
The world was going through change after change in the 70s. I felt overwhelmed and frightened when I was away from home. So, I wanted to stay home. My outgoing friends changed everything for me. Without their encouragement, I would still be sitting in my bedroom crocheting and listening to pop radio.
Whenever these friends began to notice I had a crush on someone, they were merciless. Like my freshman year, when I had a crush on a guy in my science class. A Sadie Hawkins Dance was coming up, and my BFF decided that I would ask my crush to this dance.
“It’s perfect!” she tells me. Girls are supposed to do the asking. I agonized over the scenario for days. I finally asked him, just casually, when we were changing classes. His locker was next to mine. I barely looked at him; I was so nervous. He seemed nervous, too. When he said yes, I stopped breathing. He smiled and said he had to run, but we could work out the details in science class.
Holy Crap! It did not occur to me that he would say ‘yes’. Now, I was freaking out about the dance itself. I had not thought this thing through. Since I was ‘the man’ on this date, I had to pick him up and drive him home afterwards. I did not have my license yet. This meant my father would be chauffeuring us. My father, with his comedic wit and eagerness to embarrass me.
Sigh. I lived in terror, knowing it was going to be bad. I was going to be nearly humiliated with embarrassment. I did not know in what form this would happen. Those who knew my father can sympathize. The only certainty was the fact that Dad would not miss this opportunity.
Dad behaved himself during the ride to the dance. He told us, “Have a fun time.” I was too nervous and shy to have a fun time. I believe my date was also shy and nervous. Conversation was limited, but we did dance. Fast songs and slow ones, too. I felt like I was in some kind of shock the entire evening, and it was over too soon.
Now it was my Dad’s turn to have his fun, and he said nothing. Until I returned to the car, after seeing my date to his doorstep.
“I can’t believe you didn’t KISS him!”
I was not sure how to respond to this. My lips were virgin. I hadn’t been kissed or had kissed anyone else before. I panicked. I chickened out.
“He didn’t linger,” I explained.
My Dad was laughing too hard to say another word.
Say It Isn’t So
Just when we thought the work on our street was nearly finished, we learn that it really has only begun. Now, they are ready for the BIG machines to come in and make REALLY BIG HOLES. From September through November, it turns out.
Oh, they have begun to prep other streets around our neighborhood, and have seriously damaged the one road we were taking to get off our road and into town. Last week, we had to take a different route to town every day. Every day, I had to rely on my Apple CarPlay to navigate me – whether I was coming or going.
Some residents just stopped going anywhere, unless it was Sunday and the road crews were off work. Sure, the potholes and metal plates were still there, causing you to slalom down the mountain. However, the streets were free from roadblocks and detours. No GPS guidance necessary. Even for me.
It started July 10th, 2025, and wrapped up the week before Thanksgiving. Meaning PG&E is finished burying their power lines. We don’t know if the cable or telephone companies will follow suit. If they do, it will be next summer. For now, our neighborhood is ours again. I did not realize how possessive I am of our neighborhood.
I understand now why I was so angry about it. It was like I was being violated when our streets were torn up, and our cul-de-sac was an equipment and materials parking lot. Even getting lost every day was not as disturbing as the fact that residents were not told in advance, or informed of what would happen when. It was as if we were not there.
TTFN
Adventures in Cozumel, Mexico
OR, how I was cursed by an ancient Mayan village…
We have all heard about how you shouldn’t drink the water. So, of course, I didn’t. But nobody tells you about how the war paint & watercolors, which contain local water. That may have been how I contracted dysentery. Or not.
Regardless, ignorance was bliss, and we enjoyed our excursion to the Mayan Village very much. It was the last stop on our cruise before the two days at sea to reach Fort Lauderdale. We took an hour bus ride to the Village. Instead of a tour guide, we were escorted to the different areas of the village by the local Mayan people.
The village was not very large, but the different tents and huts hosted activities. The first hut was a large area with tables. We were seated in the chairs around the tables. Natural items were sitting on top of the table. It turned out that we were in the music hut, and those items (rocks, pieces of wood, etc.) were our instruments. We were taught how to play them, and we accompanied the band.
I hoped we would learn some dance moves, but there wasn’t enough time. We needed to move on to the art room. There, we painted on a version of papyrus. We must not have pleased the art God because a deluge of rain hit us and washed our paintings away!
The four of us travelers all got this awful cold/sinus infection during the last half of the trip. It hit me very hard the afternoon of the trip to Cozumel. I knew my sinuses were infected, but this was no ordinary infection. For one thing, the thought of eating turned my stomach. I spent the last days at sea in bed, in our cabin, instead of sunning by the pool. I would have been heartbroken if I weren’t semi-conscious.
I should have gotten a clue or spotted a red flag when everyone else could function and use their brain. They could play cards, eat meals, and communicate. I could not use my brain correctly. I struggled to answer questions – even yes or no questions. I sensed that hubby was getting annoyed with my lack of participation, especially the last night when we had to put our suitcases out in the hall by 9pm, so we would not have to lug them to the airport. I should have asked him to pack up for me, but alas, no brain.
I will spare you what happened at the airport. I don’t care how curious you are. There are just some details you can’t unknow.
We have had enough adventures for now. Time to stock up for the winter and organize things around the house.
TTFN
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