| Sunday November 1, 1981
LAURA LEE TURNS 18!
Hamels last day to be open for the season. Came home from the farm early and
went up to Hamels to visit. After the pizza party, Laura came over (she had
given Chris a ride home). Laurie had already stopped by earlier. Laura and I
were getting along pretty good in Grandma’s Room. Mrs. Lee called my dad,
Laura and I went outside. Gave Laura some perfume and a card for her birthday,
she turned 18. Later Frank and I got beer and went up to let ourselves into
Hamels.
Now that Laura was 18, it meant that almost all of us could
drink legally. In the early 80s you only had to be 18 in Louisiana to buy
liquor. Not only was this a blessing because
it made buying booze easier, but we could also order drinks in restaurants and
bars without fear of being carded. Laura was elated with her birthday present but I had wished I could give
her something more. I went to a couple of Jewelry stores and was completely astounded that
even the small stuff, stuff that didn't look worthy, was over $100.
Monday November 2, 1981
Slept after school and then Laurie Jeter called.
Laura, Laurie, Frank, Paul
and me went to see the movie HALLOWEEN in Jeter’s car. Laurie had bought 2 six
packs of beer for us and her and Laura had margaritas. We got Strawberry
Daiquiris after the movie, then we went to the duck pond. Laura was depressed
today- her mouth is beginning to swell again. Left at 6:30 and got back at 10:30
and dad was mad.
Laura had a heck of a time with the reoccurring mouth infections!
Probably
due to all the kissing.
Tuesday November 3, 1981
Stayed after school for detention.
Stayed in room and read The Grapes Of
Wrath until 8:00, when Laura called. We talked until 9:30. She might have been
cranky, her mouth was swollen. Did my homework and was depressed most of the
day. Mr. Watt got mad at me today in electronics.
Mr. Watt was our electronics teacher. He was an interesting man, an older
gentleman who seemed eccentric and looked a little odd. It was rumored that he
lived alone and it wasn’t hard to see why. He had the same personality (and
style of clothes) as Michael J. Fox’s nerdy father in Back To The Future.
Wednesday November 4, 1981
CLASS FAVORITE ELECTIONS
Mom and dad went to the farm. I took mom’s car to Burger King and ate.
Frank and Marti went out. Laura called about 8:00 and we talked until 9:15.
Mom
and dad got home at 10:10. Typed up application forms for Gigolo Service.
Laura’s
mouth is badly swollen, she missed school and slept most of the day after the
"cruel doctor’s office" encounter. Watched a late movie and drank
Boons Farm wine.
Marti was always kidding around that Frank and I should start a Giglio
service, so to one-up the gag I decided to prepare some application forms that
had humorous questions.
Thursday November 5, 1981
Historical Fact:
Buckingham Palace announces that Diana, Princess of Wales, 20, and
Prince Charles, 33, of England, are expecting their first child in
June. The child will be next in line to the throne after Charles.
After school, typed up the Giglo application forms.
Walked to Franks house
and we took the dragon wagon to McDonalds and ate. I called Robert to see if he
can go out again sometime but his back problems are keeping him from working.
Called Laura at 8:30, we talked until 10:15. Her swelling had gone down some.
She missed school again. I did most of the talking. She fibbed about her mom not
letting her go out this weekend. She went to the doctor’s again. She sounded
better than she did yesterday. I told Laura I was going to attack her this
weekend. Tried out in band.
Robert was also taking medication for his back that made him sleep a lot- he
was a night owl but nine times out of 10 I usually would catch him sleeping if I
went to visit during the day.
Friday November 6, 1981
PARKWAY HIGH AT AIRLINE (HOME AT BOSSIER)
Drank wine before going to school.
At 6:30, Frank and Daniel walked over,
then Laura and Laurie picked us up in the big Mercury. We drank margarittas,
Bacardi Rum, and beer. We partied at my house a little while then Frank drove.
We stopped at Gibsons and picked up Paul. I was being a baby that night.
We
drove around a lot, dropped Paul off, then Frank and Daniel, then me and Laura
and Laurie went to Laura’s house because Laurie was spending the night with
Laura. Got home at 3:00 A.M. Was home once at 11:30 but mom wouldn’t let me
drive her car. I got really drunk and Laura did too. Parkway lost their football
game.
Saturday November 7, 1981
Slight hangover. Called Laura that morning and invited her over.
We did the
wild thing for a couple of hours. Tammy had gone
to the wrestling matches all day. Later Frank stopped over. When Laura left I made a
pizza. That night Paul, Frank, Daniel, Laura, Laurie, and Marti went out in Paul’s
camaro and drank 1 six pack of Old Milwaukee. Nobody drank much the whole night.
Drove through the square several times. It was very cramped in Paul’s car.
Laura, Laurie, and me hatched in Paul’s back seat while playing
"freeze-out". Laura was home by 12:15, then we all went home.
I drove
Paul’s car at the end of the night.
Laura and I always took advantage of the times we found ourselves alone in
the house. Things would heat up and Laura would say, "Lets get naked and
wiggle!". (Austin Powers voice) "Oh yeah baby yeah!!"
Marti usually didn’t drink much so it’s not surprising that some of the
times she was around we weren’t doing our normal drinking. She was a
pretty straight girl whose father was still on active duty in the Air Force.
She was also a class officer and very involved with the school.
Sunday November 8, 1981
After church Edward Martin dropped by, he was in town hunting.
Later, around
2:30 Frank, Marti, Laura, Laurie, and me went to Pizza Hut in the dragon wagon.
Once back home, Julie and Bic dropped by and we all talked until Tammy came
home. I called Laura and talked about 20 minutes, then Paul came over, then we
went to Frank’s house and played Risk. I almost won. Frank and I did ritual at
11:00 that night, went to pak-a-sack and got a six pack of old Milwaukee and
took the long way to Hamels Park. Got home at 1:00 A.M. It was rainy that
afternoon but it was cold and clear that night.
"The Ritual" meant that we rode our bikes up to Hamels Park, set up
the rollercoaster, and rode it. All for kicks. Taking the long way to Hamels
probably gave us time to finish most of our beer. It took about 20 min to setup
the rollercoaster because the compressed air tanks (which the brake system used)
to a little while to fill up. Running the compressor was a bit noisy and we knew
that if anyone familiar with the park heard this that they would know someone
was in there.
Monday November 9, 1981
6-WEEKS TEST WEEK
After school Frank and I went to Wal-Mart to apply again.
We took the
applications home. Then we got Frank’s milk at the Four Seasons. Jeter called
me that night and wanted to go parking tomorrow and that Laura was upset because
Barrie Shackleford had called her. But I later found out this was a bad joke.
I
called Laura and confirmed the lie, although she did happen to bump into Berry
while shopping at Mall St. Vincent. Laura had missed school today and had gone
shopping at the mall. I talked to Laura on the phone for about 1 hour.
Frank would drive all night if it meant saving a nickel on a loaf of bread,
or gallon of milk. This was one of those many occasions where Pak-A-Sak milk
just would not do. The Four Seasons was a store on base that sold a variety of
items, including bikes.
Poor Laura, having to put up with Barrie’s teasing remarks!
Tuesday November 10, 1981
Historical Fact: The
Rubik's Cube craze has swept the country as a nation of puzzle-solvers
seek to sold the cube puzzle in as quick a period of time as possible,
if the can solve it at all.
I better not be coming down with a cold.
Laurie Jeter called at 6:15 but I
was eating. She said she would call back. She laughed and admitted it was all a
lie. Ronnie came over and borrowed $65. Laura called at 8:00 and we talked until
9:10. Tammy interrupted once and accidentally slipped it to Laura about the
homecoming pictures. She asked if they were good. GOLLY! They were great.
Laura
corrected me once and said we had been dating 5 months, not 3. It was a decent
to good conversation. We agreed that I would come over tomorrow. She said I
better.
I was waiting for the perfect moment to share the Parkway Homecoming pictures
with Laura.
Wednesday November 11, 1981
VETERAN’S DAY
Played at LSUS that morning. Came home and showered and was back at school by
10:30. Called Laura at 5:30 she said I could come over. She said she would call
me and tell me when, after she finished eating. I was there from 6:30 until
8:30. Mom and dad had gone to the farm and didn’t get back until 10:30 P.M.
We
sat in her den and talked. I got a hickey. It was also the first time I had
talked to her mom since the homecoming dance night. When I was arriving at Laura’s
house, Jeter was leaving. She gave letters to me and Frank. I was home at 8:45. LSUS (Louisiana State University in Shreveport) had huge fields surrounding
the campus that were ideal for playing Frisbee or football. However that
morning we might have had a band function there.
At least Laura’s mom was still talking to me. I thought after that Captain
Shreve homecoming dance fiasco I had blown any good will I had with Laura’s
mom.
I kept close tabs on when my parents returned from the farm because we would
usually clear out shortly before they got home, or at least put most of the
empty beer cans in the garbage.
Thursday November 12, 1981
Historical Fact: After
a two week delay, the first flight of a reusable spacecraft gets
underway with the launch of the Columbia Shuttle.
BASKETBALL: PHS BOYS AT HAUGHTON
Senior picture was taken at school.
Ronnie gave me a ride home. Ronnie and I
were talking when Laura, Frank, and Jeter drove up in Jeter’s new car. We all
went for a ride and ordered chicken. Called Laura at 7:45, talked until 9:00,
conversation was general. Called Tony, and Robert called me at 12:00.
Frank and
I took mom’s car to Goat Hill road to get the chains. We each had one six pack
that night. We left the bottles at Jeter and Lee’s house. We also snuck up to
Hamels and rode the rollercoaster nonstop and got hurt. Also rode the Magic
Carpet. We walked the entire log ride. Lost Frank that night, then found him.
Got in at 4:00 A.M. drunk.
One can only imagine how many laws were broken that night.
The chains were a remnant of the night Laura and I had gone parking out there.
Barrie had loaned them to me that horrible night. Thankfully they were still there when we went
to pick them up.
Friday November 13, 1981
ENDS 2ND 6-WEEKS
Checked in for 3rd hour.
Mom and dad stayed home from the farm
tonight. Laurie and Laura picked me up in Laurie Jeter’s new car at 7:05, then
we went and picked Paul up. We went driving around, went to the square, went to
pak-a-sack for beer because I couldn’t stand the Margarita I was drinking.
At
the Pack-A-Sack Laura got in the back seat with me (finally) then we went to the
wreck center, then to a very busy Johnies Pizza, then we went driving around
more through sub divisions in Shreveport. We stopped at Gibsons so that I could
buy Paul some.22 shells (bullets) because he is not 18. Didn’t drink to much
that night, got home at 12:30 and while peeing met Robert, Tony, and Carson
Swindle. Saddle soap fight, talked and joked about one hour. I had seen Robert’s
car at the square earlier that night. After all that, tried to do a little
chemistry homework. I want my own car!
We used to enjoy driving through the really "rich" subdivisions in
Shreveport. We would always impress each other with news of, "I know where
there are some really fancy houses!" - and off we would go. All
destinations were welcome because getting there was at least half the fun.
I was peeing in the bathroom before going to bed when I saw these guy’s
faces at the bathroom widow. They knew no bounds! I went outside and we hung out
for a while and talked.
When Carson Swindle was around, Robert could be nearly intolerable.
Together, those two thought that they had the entire world by the tail and we're
not afraid to let everyone around them know where they stood. They thought
everyone was stupid. They loved to crack snotty little remarks
around people that only they understood. They often acted like
they were to good to walk the planet with mere mortals. Now I think
God punished Carson for his excessive snootiness by making all his hair fall out
by the time he was 21.
Saturday November 14, 1981
Woke up at about 10:30 A.M. and everyone was gone.
Took a shower, Frank
called. Made spaghetti and then went to Frank’s house and helped work on his
car, we painted his motor. We later watched HBO, I called Laura at 6:15, invited
her over to be misfits together. In the living room we watched cartoons and
argued with Tammy. Later mom and dad came home and they and Tammy went to bed.
Me and Laura watched TV and then went into the den where I was pretty determined
minded. Laura left at 12:45 and then
I made ravioli and watched a little of the late movie before going to bed.
Laura
and I drank one six pack and two beers, 1 of moms beers and ½ of a ½ pint of
Soiuthern Comfort, I was pretty buzzed and determined minded.
Frank, Ronnie, and myself had painted our car engines and had chrome air
cleaners. We kept the engines clean and took great pride in "popping the
hood" for each other, or at any gathering. We were all convinced that we
had the fastest cars.
Sunday November 15, 1981
Historical Fact: John Hinckley
Jr., charged in the assassination attempt on President Reagan
in March, is rescued from his cell following a suicide attempt.
Frank and me went to church, home, Sunday school, BX, base library, home,
showered, went to Laura’s house, Jeter’s house, Paul’s house, we kept
happy, 2 six packs of beer and then we went to my dad’s farm. We had a great
time. Me Paul and Frank drove the tractor. Tried to get Laura to go snipe
hunting. We all ate a big dinner there. Dad showed us all a well and an old
ruined shack. Drank lots of beer, joked and had a good time of it all.
Laura and
I sat in the back seat of the station wagon all the way home. Showed Laura some
dirty pictures in men's bathroom at gas station. At 11:00 ritual, Frank and I
went to Marti’s house and we all just talked about life in general. I got home
at 1:30. I did call Laura earlier in the day to tell her a joke about Frank and
a roller coaster accident. Joke took at most about 3 min. Laura still has my
cold. Got two big hickies that night in the station wagon. Shaved the
caterpillar off.
The "caterpillar" was my mustache, not much more than peach fuzz. Snipe hunting is where you tell an unsuspecting partner that you are going into
the woods to "hunt snipe", little hairy creatures that are hard to
catch. But the real purpose was to get out into the woods to be alone and
smooch. Because Laura and I had been dating for some time, we
really didn't need such a juvenile excuse to kiss- it was cold that
night and we were just as happy doing our kissing indoors. Monday November 16, 1981
Failed the first new six weeks chemistry test.
Lee may get to smoke after
all. During lunch, Laura and Laurie dropped in the cafeteria to watch me eat.
We
left and went to my house for a little while and then went back to school in
time for 5th hour. Ronnie picked me up on the way home from school
and we went up to Captain Shreve. Ellen and Ronnie got in a fight and then made
up. Then we went over to Melinda’s house and I had him drive me home.
I couldn’t
stand it any longer. That night, Frank and I went to the library, we applied at
Wal-Mart, went to cloth world, then Albertsons to cash the check, then to Burger
King. Got home at 9:00 and Laura called. She had tried to call earlier.
We
talked about 1.3 hours about everything that happened to each other that day.
I
forgot to tell her that I remembered that today marks three months of going
steady.
Laura and Laurie both smoked. No one else in our group did but we were pretty
tolerant of it because these girls were our closest friends, and no one could
really say that the rest of us were living the healthy life.
Tuesday November 17, 1981
PHS (BOYS AND GIRLS) AT SOUTHWOOD (AWAY)
After school was reading about Human Anatomy when Laura called at 5:15, we
talked to about 5:40 and agreed that I would come over. I convinced mom I was
going to the LSUS (Louisiana State University in Shreveport) library. We watched HBO over at her house on the couch from
6:30 – 9:30. I helped her mom unload her car from cooking class.
Laura’s mom….quite possibly the perfect mother.
I had a bit of a crush on her while I was dating Laura.
Wednesday November 18, 1981
GENE GILL’S BIRTHDAY
After school, fell asleep, later went to Mall St. Vincents with Frank and his
family. Mom and dad went to the farm and got back at 10:05. Tammy spent the
evening at the basketball game. I got home at 9:20, called Laura but she was not
there. She called me at 10:10 and we talked until 11:10, about general stuff.
Mike and Daniel got their hair cut, I walked the St. Vincent parking lot wall
with Frank.
Did they get their hair cuts at the Barber Shop in the BX?
Gene Gill was in Ronnie Bower's class (one year older than us). He drove a
green 4 door Nova that had a CB radio in it. Ronnie's car had a CB radio
in it also. One day after school Ronnie and Gene were each in their own
cars chasing each other all around the neighborhood, and Bossier City.
They kept yelling about it on the radio. "Ha ha! You nearly hit
that guy!", etc. Unfortunately for Gene, his dad
also had a CB radio and just happened to be home listening to the whole
thing. What horrible luck. Gene couldn't drive for a while after that!
Thursday November 19, 1981
REPORT CARDS
After school, I fell asleep from 3:00 – 9:30, when Laura called and woke me
up. We talked until about 10:30. We joked a bit. Not much of interest happened
today.
When I wasn’t drinking heavily, I was sleeping
heavily.
Friday November 20, 1981
At school, had a Almost Anything Goes. After school, Lee and Jeter stopped by
in Jeter’s car followed by Julie in her car. I unsuccessfully attempted to
make Laura think I was asleep. Laura, Laurie, and I went to Franks house.
Laura
was in an extraordinarily good and happy mood. That night we picked up Jeter at
9:38, later than we expected to. She had mentioned earlier that she had a
doctors appointment that night but to come get her at 8:00. We were late but
Laura did picked up probably around 6:30. Jeter had no appointment, she picked
up her sister from work. My parents never went to the farm. Laura’s mother
invited us all over so we stayed the night there watching "Plant of the
Apes" on TV. Her mom was home but stayed in the shadows. Laura and Laurie
pulled a pregnant joke on me. I fell for it. Paul took Marti, Frank, Daniel, and
Laurie home, and Laura said she would take me home, and when Joe came back that
night with the car she took me home. I got in about 1:40. In the carport at my
house, I asked Laura about the pregnancy joke. I was buzzed good that night but
it wore off before 1:00 A.M.
All of us lived to play jokes on each other. Anything was game- and the more
elaborate the joke the funnier it was. Telling me she was pregnant was horrible!
I never felt so confused in my life.
Saturday November 21, 1981
PHS ARTS & CRAFTS SALE
Laura’s grandparents may have come into town today.
I went to Franks house, and while walking back with his records I bumped into
Laura and Laurie and we all went back to my house. No one was home and we all
talked on the couch. Laurie gave me a smooch on the cheek. It was a great
conversation when they told me the pregnancy was a joke. We got started early
that night. We jammed hard as hell at my house, great dancing, my parents were
at the farm but were supposed to come home that night. We played Col. Puff for
the first time in the dining room. Tammy and her drunk friends stopped by once
to use the bathroom. They went to a Parkway dance. In Mom and Dad’s room,
Laurie and Laura locked the door and turned out the lights and we were all
having fun kissing and groping when frank beat on the bedroom door to tell me my
parents were here. It was a distasteful joke and ruined everything. I got the
house cleaned up. Marti got off at 10:00 and Laura and Laurie pulled Frank in
the den and they pulled the pregnancy joke on him. Paul started asking a lot of
questions. When Marti got off of work, Frank went home to meet her and they went
their own way. My parents came home at about 10:40 and we all agreed it seemed
so late because we started partying so early. We all talked to my parents and
decided to go to the farm this week. Mom joked about a keg party. Paul took
Laura and Laurie home. Laura called me at about 1:00 A.M. when she got home (I
had asked her to call). I was a great phone conversation. Was a great night!
I was having a blast in the dark with Laura and Laurie in my mom and dads
bed. I still wonder what would have happened if Frank would have been able to
contain himself. He beat on the door with his fist, yelling that my parents were
pulling up in the driveway. So we all scrambled out of there just to find Frank
sitting on the couch grinning from ear to ear.
FRANK NOTES: Damn, four
is better than three. I really don’t remember this.
Paul always got real paranoid whenever he felt like everyone else knew
something he didn’t. Half of the fun of the joke was watching Paul stress out
about nothing.
Sunday November 22, 1981
Woke up and rode to church with Frank in his station wagon, Daniel came
along. After church, we went to the BX and Frank bought shoes and candles for a séance
we were planning, we heard Christmas music and thought we heard Bruce
Ackerman. While I was in the shower Laura and Laurie came over and we went to
Matri’s house to play Risk. Frank, me, Johnny, Bobby, Laura, Laurie, Paul, and
Daniel all played. Laura and Laurie had to leave. Jeter had to pick up her
sister from work at 4:00, and Laura had a church scavenger hunt at 5:00 but said
she would be finished by 6:00. After the game, it was dark. We walked to my
house (Daniel, Frank, Paul, and me) just to get home and find my parents driving
up. Damn! Me and Paul waited at my house while Frank and Daniel went home and
showered and ate (Paul drove them home real quick and came right back). Laurie
called and said she had to stick around until 7:30 or 8:00. Marti called and
said she had a church assembly but would be done at 8:00.
Laurie called back and said Laura was there. Her mother had dropped her off.
I got mad when Laura was put on the phone and she threw the phone down. Paul and
I drove to Franks house after Daniel had called and said they were ready. Frank,
me, Daniel, and Frank drove to Laurie’s house in Paul’s car. I was mad. Told
the girls give or take an hour on arrival. Marti never showed up, she wound up
going to a preachers house and playing bad mitten after church, and we never saw
her again that day. Spent most of the day with Frank, Paul, and Daniel. Paul,
Daniel, Frank, me, Laurie, and Laura went driving around drinking beer (in the
den at my house for a little while), we went to the old Church by Jeter’s Farm
and did the séance (It was Paul’s first time there, he was all worried about
his car) and then we got bored and went to Guys and Dolls. We did finally see
the graveyard that night. After Guys and Dolls, Frank got edgy and said he was
tired and wanted to go home. We took him home about 11:30. So Daniel, Paul, me,
Laurie, and Laura snuck into my house and played Col. Puff in the den. I got
pretty buzzed. Jeter played drinking a margarita. Me, Laurie, and Laura were
ready to party all night but Paul wanted to be going home. Paul took Daniel,
then Laurie, then Laura home. Laurie got in trouble for coming in so late (about
2:00 A.M.). Paul and Laura joked on the way home. When they left, I was making a
frozen pizza. Then Laura called about 2:20 A.M. to make sure I was not mad about
her hitting me in the den with the little stick (how stupid!). Of course I was
not mad. Laura and Paul wound up breaking that stick that night. We talked on
the phone for about 1.5 hours. She finally talked about her past sexual
encounters and I told her about mine. Probably would not have if I and her had
not been drinking so much. This pizza got severely burned because I had
forgotten about it in the oven. Ate a little of it though and went to bed.
I almost didn’t want to know about this part of her past- I had a feeling
Laura had been "around the block" more than I….but just how much I
had no idea. I told her that if she told me first, I would tell her about me.
After a good deal of posturing, she finally told me how many guys she had been
with. For some reason I felt like a fool because she was my first and she had no
idea….so I lied and told her I had "done it" with a few of the other
girls she knew I had dated before her. But I felt like I had been kicked in the
gut and lost all my appetite for eating the pizza and was actually quite
depressed about the entire affair for the next several weeks. One of the guys
she had been with was a fellow who had graduated in Ronnie’s class and was
someone I considered to be a real jackass.
What were the rules of Col. Puff?
Monday November 23, 1981
NO SCHOOL THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
Rob Horner called. I got bored and called Laura and they said she was at
Laurie's house. She called me back and I invited her over for lunch. She came
over in the Big Cruiser. We were alone until Tammy came home and saved Laura
from embarrassment. An admission of facts that night. Once Laura left, I talked
to Laurie on the phone. She could not go out that night because she got in a big
fight with her mom for coming home so late last night. Laura had to leave my
house for basketball practice that night, starts at 5:00 or 6:00. Paul called.
Marti had to work until 10:00. Frank and Daniel walked over about 6:30, we got
on the roof and scared Paul when he came over about 6:45. First I drove Pauls
car to Pak-A-Sak for beer, then Paul drove to Laura'’ house, and then we all
went to Guys and Dolls.
After Guys and Dolls we went back to my house, we went in the den and we all
talked. Marti dropped by. Laura said she saw Robert that day on her way back
from basketball practice. Paul took everyone home but I took Laura home in the
truck at about 12:40. We were all set to do it when Laura apologized,
"…it’s that time."
Tuesday November 24, 1981
Historical Fact: CBS
premieres the crime show "Simon and Simon" starring Jameson
Parker and Gerald McRaney as two San Diego private detectives who always
wind up with peculiar cases.
NO SCHOOL THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
Frank, me, Marti, Daniel, and Laura all went to my dad’s farm. Tammy,
Russell, and mom showed up at the farm at about 12:30. We all went out hiking
and to look at the well and climbing trees when Marti and Laura hid from us. We
gave up and went back to the house, got the truck, and were coming back looking
for them when we saw them walking back. Went snipe hunting that night, Laura and
I got cold and came back into the house early and waited for Marti and Frank.
When they finally got back, dad was out of the shower and wanted to show
everyone the production movie set in town (mom, Tammy, and Russell had long
left). Laura and I stayed behind while everyone else left. We fell asleep on the
couch and woke up when they came back 2 hours later. Laura was not feeling well
and I could tell. We all went home and I got home about 11:20. Everyone’s
parents were worried when we got home.
My dad loved showing people the farm and the sights in Marshall Texas. He
would grab my friends and whisk them away for hours.
Wednesday November 25, 1981
NO SCHOOL THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
Sure enough, Laura is slightly ill. She has a sore throat. That night, Frank
drove over in his dad’s station wagon. Laura could not go out but invited us
over. At my house Frank, Daniel, Paul and me talked to our new neighbors and
then we all went to Laurie’s house and picked her up and then went back to my
house. Mom was there but we partied anyhow. Daniel brought his new strobe light
over and we tested it out. No sweat came over to meet the gang and Joe came
along too. Ronnie and Melinda came and left many times. We fooled Ronnie- Frank
told him that Laura and I were in my room with the door locked. After jamming at
my house, we went to visit Laura and found out she could go out when she asked
again. We were all in Frank’s Dragon Wagon and we went to Guys and Dolls where
we met Marti, Bobby, and Johnny. We did not stay real long, Laura had to be home
by 12:00 to keep the peace in the family. We were drinking Michelob Light that
night and a small amount of wine that Ronnie and Melinda happily finished off.
We took Laura home and everyone else went home too.
Who is "no sweat"?
Ronnie would usually pop over with his dates when things weren't
going well
or they were extremely bored, but they never stayed long.
Thursday November 26, 1981
Historical Fact:
According to A.C. Nielson, the most-watched TV shows at this time are:
1. Dallas
2. 60 Minutes
3. The Jeffersons
4. Three's Company
5. Alice
THANKSGIVING DAY
Frank had a sore throat today. Ate a big supper. Ron Della Pietra called. I
said I would go out with the Beatles. I called Robert about 6:00 and he had just
finished eating. He said the Beatles would be over at 7:00. About 6:30, Laura
called from Laurie’s house and asked if I wanted to go out. I apologized and
said I would miss them but asked her out for Friday night and promised. Robert
came over exactly on time. We got two six packs of beer and went driving around.
We stopped at Hamels and jammed, bumped into Sam in a corvette there, some girls
yelled "do y’all have any beer!". We got more beer, went driving
around to a bar at St. Vincents (87 Precent) and got 3 drinks for the price of
one. Bumped into Freddy Boly and his girlfriend Carylon upstairs. Ron ordered us
all more beer. We went driving around and bought 2 quarts more of beer. Went to
Layna’s house for awhile, then Robert and I left to go get more beer (came to
less than $2.00!). Layna sewed Tony’s pants while he strolled around in his
underware. At 2:00 A.M.Layna took us all home and dropped me off.
Going out with the Beatles was always a great time. We had been going out as
a group since I was a sophomore in high school so we knew each other very well.
Robert would always drive, I would ride shotgun, and Ron and Tony would ride in
the back. We wore our seat belts, this in a time when wearing seat belts was
almost unheard of. But Robert always made us do it so that we would not be
flying around inside the car when he was performing his crazy driving stunts. He
was one of the best driver’s I’ve ever seen, and how he managed to keep from
totaling his car is something I’ll never understand. He used the entire car
like a weapon of war- he could hide it, move it, and loose people, spy on
people, etc. He had a very sharp mind for all things on the road.
For instance, once some girls in a car in the lane to the left of us were
looking over and smiling. Robert had passed them and now they were easing up to
pass us on the left again. Robert said, "When I give the word, snap you’re
head to the right and keep looking away." So just as the girls pulled up
next to us and looked over we snapped our heads away to the other direction. It
was a funny gag that took them by surprise, but Robert was always thinking of
weird things like that to freak people out.
Was his name Freddy Bole? Funny how when "out with Robert" we bump
into "Friend of Robert". But that was cool. With Robert we went
entirely different places, always mysterious.
We often drank the cheap beer….Old Milwalkee on sale often ran about $2.00
a six pack. It was the favorite beer of Jerry Touche as well.
Tony was a "card", a name we used for someone who thought he was a
stud and a funny guy. We always got along well but he had a few personality
quirks. Once at Layna Cooks house he was moved to tears in an argument with
Robert that involved the determination of whether or not rabbits scream when
they fall. Tony was convinced that the act of screaming for a Rabbit would be
enough to kill it.
Friday November 27, 1981
NO SCHOOL THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
Called Laura and told her all about Thursday night and asked her what she
did. I told her I was going out with the Beatles again tonight (as a joke). She
got real upset but would not admit it until later that night. We got in a fight
and she would not let me play Col. Puff with Daniel, Paul, Laurie, and her.
During a break in the game, she came and made up with me, I sat in her lap
through Col. Puff. She was getting drunk. Laura and I went to go get more beer
while Paul let Laurie drive his car around the block. Laura and I got back to
the house the same time Paul, Laurie, and Daniel did. Frank may have been out
with Marti. Laura drover her car over to my house with Laurie Jeter, they had to
be back by 1:00. My parents came home and went straight to bed. We (the gang)
sat on the tailgate of the truck when Ronnie and Melinda drove off with Laura
(she was wild that night). Laurie, Paul, and Daniel went driving around the
square and Laura and I stayed and made out in the den until the gang came back.
We talked about me being a jerk today. Laura and Laurie left when Paul and
Laurie came back, and everyone went home.
Was Ronnie dating Melinda and Ellen at the same time? They are both mentioned
a lot in the next couple of weeks.
Saturday November 28, 1981
Historical Fact: The
#1 pop single is "Physical" by Olivia Newton-John. The
#1 pop album is "4" by Foreigner.
Went to Franks house and watched him and his dad work on his car. I got sick
and had to go home. Got home and called Laura, and then Jeter, and they called
me back. Freak out. Everyone (Marti, Frank, Daniel, me, Laura, and Laurie) met
at my house and we went and fixed up the old church out by Jeter’s Farm. I got
sick. We went to the square to buy flake blood at the magic store but it was
closed. We went and picked up Paul, we had 7 people in Jeter’s little car. We
casually got beer and we took Paul to the church and scared the shit out of him
(Jeter said she lost her keys, Laura was crying, Daniel was afraid, Paul’s
morals, Frank’s manliness, and my common sense). We went to McDonalds and told
Paul it was all a joke. By now I was no longer sick, and Laurie took everyone
home because her and Laura had to be home by 1:00 A.M. Marti went in early that
night because she was tired and she did not get to witness the joke. Frank,
Paul, Daniel, and me all wanted to stay out longer so we all went out in Paul’s
car in search of Amonitte Dison’s house. The dumb-asses in that neighborhood
don’t know shit! Never found it that night because Paul had to go home. Got
home about 2:00 A.M. Frank and me were going to sneak out but decided not to.
Another great night dedicated to the execution of an elaborately prepared
joke! Anonnete Dison was Laura’s sister, who was married.
Sunday November 29, 1981
Frank and Daniel went to church with us, and after church Frank fixed his
car. Frank and I picked up Paul and Marti and we found A.D.s house easy! We went
to get Laura to show her, but called first. Boy was she mad! She thought that
Jeter had showed us the house. We went to Laura’s house, picked her up, and
then went to Laurie’s house and picked her up. Then we all went to Frank’s
house because it was getting dark. My mom would not allow her car out, so Frank
got the station wagon and drove everyone home. On the way home, Laura and I made
up. That night, Laurie called me and we talked for 2 hours on the phone. I
called Robert, and then he stopped by and stayed until 1:00 A.M. drinking Old Milwaukee, and talking about things.
I was determined to find Laura’s sister’s house. It was in a bad
neighborhood in Bossier. Probably about ground zero for where the Binion’s
Horseshoe Hotel and Casino sits now.
When Robert and I started drinking, we loved to talk. We could talk all
night, and that boy could talk up a storm.
FRANK NOTES: I was
probably trying to repair the damage to the front end that the car received in
April of 1981. I drove the car around for a long time without headlights. This
was my green 1972 Pontiac LeMans.
Monday November 30, 1981
PAUL SMITH’S BIRTHDAY!
Frank drove his car to school! After school, Frank and I went to the credit
union in Frank’s car, then we went to the unemployment office, Paul’s house,
Frank’s house, Pak-A-Sak for beer, then to Laurie’s house, Burger King, then
to the base theater for "Arthur". Got home at 9:30, called Laura but
her phone was busy. Laura called me at 9:45, we walked until 10:00, she called
me back at 10:30 and we talked until 12:00. Paul got two new front speakers. Was
also his birthday today. "Ta Ke Air Da". WHAT?! I ate free at Burger
King because Dale was there. We also bumped into Bruce Ackerman at the Base
Theater. Laura had gone to do something with manicure that day.
Dale who?
The base theater was cheap and Frank and I had been seeing movies there since
we were kids.
Laura was taking classes in French and was trying to teach me how to say
"I Love You" in French. I learned it and we used to say it to each
other in public without feeling silly.
Click Here for December
1981
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