Where to begin?
Lets start with the Music #Media ... the best ever in time! Anything you could play with "air guitar!" 8 tracks and Billboard Radio ... Here's my playlist....
Spirit in the Sky, songs like Dead Skunk, Killing me softly, I can see clearly now,
Just one look at you, Whats going on,
any thing Paul Simon, Billy Joel, Pink Floyd, Carol King, Van Morrison, AeroSmith, Cher, CCR, ELO, Neil young, Jon Stewart, Led Zepplin, Black Sabbath, Elton John, Steppenwolf, Stevie Wonder, Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd Three Dog Knight (I had all of these posters in my room the dogs playing poker were my favorites) and Eric Clapton just to name a fewBut then I had a whole different playlist for MowTown I still love it from the 60's especially for dances... Aretha Franklin, Sly and the Family Stone, Marvin Gaye, The Supremes, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Jackson Five, and Lionel Richie! I would much prefer going over to Westwood and seeing my friends from Franklin for Dances!!
Best dance and love music ever!!!
I can see that just conjuring up the names brings memories that have been buried pretty deep. In fact I remember going to a few firesides that year where they would talk about music and the evil thereof! I would go home and give my records away, I don't look back longingly or do I?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8ZDMXvzzgQ enough about that!
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1973/10/inspiring-music-worthy-thoughts?lang=spa&clang=eng
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| I seemed to miss class alot this year! We made lots of trips around town in Jims' Chevy Biscayne. |
The first day of school I was tempted to leave campus and miss a few classes and choose to do so! That was the beginning of the end for me and High School. Always go to class! I am sure that I have a learning disorder! Knowing that Then might have helped me, I don't know??? This is the year that Algebra was introduced into my life, I did not understand why we were adding numbers and Math was over for me, Mr Devo and I did not hit it off! English, also, as you can tell I didn't do well here either, I liked to write, but I wanted to write the way I talk, as I do here in my blog. That didn't go over well for getting good grades! I did pretty good in my other classes and did enjoy going them except seminary.
During one hour a day (as in my freshmen year) I had Seminary, only now the building for seminary is directly across the street from the High School and between me and the building was 20 to 50 kids standing by burn barrels or in corn fields smoking, mocking me for "going to church" during school. Some times it was too hard for me to Stand Alone, stand tall, walk thru them and go into class. At times I would join in the crowd versus just Inviting them to go with me! Only once did I try to smoke too, I thought it would be great to have something to do with my hands! UKE! I hated it. It burned all the way down my throat and into my lungs. I wrote in my journal "I don't know why Daddy or anyone wants to smoke." ???? Out in the corn fields around the seminary building the kids would sit in circles and smoke pot. I had good seminary teachers that looked after me. Brother Kendrick especially, I knew that he noticed when I wasn't in class and that he cared about me as a person I always appreciated that. When he wanted to talk to me about behavior he came to me, he didn't call my mom or send home letters like the school did! All I remember is that he only wanted me to succeed, cared about me, and that he had a testimony of Jesus Christ and the Book Of Mormon!!
The kids I hung out with were not all members of the church although most that I went to church with for the most of part that were in my stake or ward went to High School with me. The problem looking back, was when I started High School I had become friends with the kids that were older than me and brushed off Debbie, Jane Sheila and Urlene somehow. They could date, they could drive, they had jobs and could get away with not going to class, they had friends who didn't have the same standards that momma taught me! Like Dr. John sang... "it was the right place wrong time" -- nope it was all wrong!!! So if you can learn from me anything to help get thru High School learn this ... go to class it is the foundation of the rest of your lifes education and education matters in everything you do - for all of your learning it effects your family, career and self.
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| Ricky owned a Blue International Pickup 3 speed on the column. He taught me how to drive it on the back roads of the canal banks during several classes that I'm sure I was suppose to be in!
This is the year that I met Jim, Robert and Ricky, hung out with Susan and Kristine, had Dance at school (yeah! so excited), hated choir, tried to be a missionary (a story for later), felt judged by the "mormons", rebelled a little because of it giving them something to talk about (didn't hurt them only hurt me- stupid move). My friends were all searching for who they were in this great big High School, some how I lost track of Sandy and Nancee, in fact half way thru the year Nancee told me she was getting married - WOW! was I ever shocked. She who never ever wanted to get married, she wanted to go to school and be a Doctor.
My sister is living in Rocky Point Mexico, my brothers have disappeared from the family social network, Vietnam doing a number on their psyche! Daddys' Horse riding Stable is running full swing on 1st St. in Tempe town! Mom works 60-70 hours a week. Computers are being introduced to the office, she is taking classes at night too! I race home often to beat the notes and report cards in the mail box before Mom gets them. She is often in "tune" with the fact that I haven't been to class (it's very annoying). My Mia Maid class is the 4 of us Debbie, Jane, Sheila and my self. The four of us however non associated at school have each others backs and know that we are one and truly friends more like sisters. Urlene is staying with her Aunt I miss her. She plays Basketball can you believe it - "she's short" (recorded in my journal!!) "is all I'm saying! Man I miss her" Went to the Temple to do work there I did the baptisms for 15 names.  I had Biology with Mr. Atkin (is that right?) anyway this kid Darcy King was in my class and the best Mormon I knew! He was an example of what I wanted, but seem to not have. He and I went to CO-Ed dance, we doubled with Suz and Terry. We went to the dance and then out to eat at a little place in Mesa. It was delicious! Then we went to Farells for ice cream. I actually fell asleep on the way home, I guess I was so content. What a great guy, Darcy was very real and very good and very nice. I believe he went with me as a gesture to "save me from myself" No one really liked where I was going with Ricky. My sister thought Darcy was the neatest!
I had several leaders that went the extra mile! This one would pick me up and take me on dates! I remember one particular time when we went to Bobs Big Boy on Main Street. I wrote in my journal... "She was 'super cool and seemed to me to be a real lady" -
Dear Kelly,
You have been in my thoughts quite a bit these days. I thought I might write you a few lines to express some of them. During our association in MIA, I have watched you change from a child to be a beautiful young woman. I have looked on while your thoughts grew into mature ideas. I have been happy during your accomplishments and I have cried during your heartbreaks. Although I have only known you for a year and a half I almost feel as though I have watched you grow up entirely. I am trying to say that over this short period of time I have grown very fond of you. Perilous times lie ahead, but I have faith and confidence that you will make the correct decisions in the years ahead. Be strong enough to make the proper decisions under the guidance of your Heavenly Father. When the time comes be wise enough to follow the decisions of your worthy husband in that he has seen fir to place himself under the guidance of our Heavenly Father.
Scrutinize your dating partners - if they don't measure up, use extreme caution in allowing the relationship to proceed farther. Be choosy - don't cheat yourself of any of the wonderful things that can be yours. I know that Heavenly Father is pleased when you care about other people enough to want to help them to do good. But Heavenly Father cares about you very much and he would not be pleased should you accidentally sacrifice yourself in such an endeavor. Although I will not be teaching you next year, I hope that we will continue to grow closer and that you will share your life with me. If I can ever be of service to you in anyway, please let me do so. You are a beautiful person, Kelly. I enjoyed having you in class very much. When time for marriage arrives I pray you will invite me to be with you in the beautiful Temple. I very much desire to witness the beginning of your eternal marriage.
I love you --
Jill
She was very intuitive and insightful with her words and guidance. If only we could listen and heed the already planted, tried and true home grown testimonies of others. The scriptures are full of these types of stories and examples of righteous leaders. |
