I "POaST" about my life .... Festivals ...

 The Dance Festivals

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints


When I was ages 12 - 18 the Mutual organization I went to every week (youth group) held Speech Festivals, Roadshows (mini plays that traveled from church building to church building) and dance festivals that I could be involved in.  I loved it, I really did. I liked giving talks I was in speech classes always in junior High and High School, believe it or not I had a memory back then and memorized speeches that were informative, poetic, drama driven, and testimonial.  The roadshows were super fun and drove our leaders crazy because getting thru each and every practice might have driven them a little insane!!!  But the Dance Festivals they were huge back then and even traveled to Salt Lake - it was Clean outta sight!!!

Roadshow

When the boys and girls are 12 they participate in dances such as Square Dancing and line dances!  I was highly insulted because I wanted to dance with the Boys!  But the guidelines are such in the Church that boys and girls dance together after they can date! Well that abit exaggerated group saturday night dances are held and can be attended when you are 14!  It sounds absolutely ridiculous writing it out here but thems the rulz and I lived and died by them, or I didn't!

this is me when I was in the all girls square dance the pic on the right is Sheila, me and Deb

All I can tell you is these activities hold great memories and bonds with people I may never see again but influenced me for eternity friends and leaders that went and still go the extra mile to serve, teach and go the extra mile.   If you have the opportunity to either be in one of these as a youth or a leader I suggest you jump on it #ShareGoodness!   I had the best time dancing, I loved it no matter when where or how.  I may have mentioned that a few times in this life story of mine. (well maybe not I note here that it is not already a search/label word I need to go and fix that!!!).   Dancing was my life from as long as I can remember and thru my college years.  Anyway...I regress....

We danced both of these dance festivals at the Sun Devil Stadium and some groups were chosen to go to Salt Lake and perform, I went one year to watch.  It was most exciting.

Bobby, me, Sheila, Deb (why do you have curlers in your hair?!), Jane, Leslie,Susan,Danny,Christine,David,Lyle,Timmy,Terry and Eldon
Pretty cool I did that without making it bigger or looking them up!

 THESE ARE MY PEOPLE!

I do not know why Urlene isn't in the group pic, maybe she was younger and they had a different group.

I POaST about my life ... 1972-1973 10th grade

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 few
But 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

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.

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,

Portland Temple August 1989

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.