RETURN OF the JEDI 1983

JUNE 1, 1983

Wednesday

I had a great Memorial Day weekend. Friday night, Roger, Kevin and I went to Dillard’s at Valley View and bought me a new outfit for my party the next night. It was a party celebration for Roger’s 21st birthday. Plus Scott was in town from the air force and brought Kelly and Joe. (Joe bothered me all night.) I found myself greatly attracted to Bill Hollomon that night, and set out to get him, and did. I could have had my choice of any guy for the evening to dance with or whatnot, and I chose Bill. I also found out that night that his birthday is the same as Alex’s, September 23rd. I found that rather bizarre since he always reminded me of Alex in a sense.

I saw a lot of people I haven’t seen in ages. For example, Vera and Mike. She’s pregnant again. She’s due in September. They seem to be doing well. Kathleen came also. So did Mark Hall. He’s doing great too. I looked great, felt great, and had a great time!

Sunday night, (Roger’s actual birthday) - we, Alan (Roger’s roommate and cousins), and Bambi (Alan’s girlfriend) went to see the St. Croix Philharmonic Steel Drum Band at Nick’s. They were great! I, of course, was going crazy and found myself closing my eyes, listening to the tinny sound of the drums, and cruising all over again. We sambaed, rumbaed, etc.

I wish I didn’t enjoy Roger’s company so much. He stayed over until about 2:30 a.m. If he was a little less enjoyable or interesting, I could quit thinking about him for more than a friend. But he’s here all summer. Goody! He is by far the most important person in my life right now. He has been at least one of the most important people in my life since Memorial Day last year when we went and saw Annie together for his birthday. I would think about things like that. In essence, it’s our anniversary. Tee Hee!

DeeAnn and Brian came to my party Saturday, but I didn't’ have a chance to visit with them much. I need to talk to her about some things. But she doesn’t know Roger well, and can’t understand my need for him.

JUNE 7, 1983

Tuesday

Well! I couldn’t write any yesterday because I was working so hard, but today I have a little more time to write what all happened this weekend. Sherri and I went to the cabin by ourselves.

Friday Night -

I picked up Sherri and ran to my house to get my things together. I was in a real hurry to get to the cabin and rushed, rushed, rushed. We finally hit the road and got lost. Well, we went on I20 and we were supposed to take the Terrell exit and get on Hwy 80. I had to ask an old farmer where 80 was, and he directed me. We were way off the track. Finally, we got back on 80 in Grand Saline which is only one town before Mineola. We got to Mineola and ate supper at the Eat Shop Cafe. Two guys were looking at us at the whole time. (2021 comment - this “spot” is now East Tx Burger Co.)

When we left the cafe, and headed on 1254 for the cabin, something shocking occurred to me. I had left they key to the cabin at home. No other way to get in at all. I couldn’t believe I had done such a dumb thing. Well, I figured I could go to Chet and Janie’s and Chet could figure out what to do. When we first got there, Sherri and I tried the doors just hoping one was open, but of course they weren’t. We then went down to Janie and Chet’s and left a note saying:

Help!

Locked out of the cabin and no key.

Need help getting in.

Janie

We drove around for quite a while to stall time, and then came back. I was becoming more frantic all the time. We drove back by Janie’s, and still no one there. We went back to the cabin trying to do something ourselves again, but to no avail. Panicky, I backed out of the driveway, and ran smack into a tree. I nearly started bawling then. I sat in my car for a while, hating to go out and look. I could see where I hit the tree and hated worse to see my car. Sherri got out and surprisingly enough, not a mark whatsoever on my car. I luckily have a huge bumper guard on my car. I at that time, saw a car coming from Janie’s area (so I thought.) I flagged the car down, and it was Mr. and Mrs. Clee. They said they had just dropped off Mr. and Mrs. Flaugherty and that Mr. Flaugherty was a locksmith. (Remember that name? When I was littler, I used to play with their daughter, Bonnie.) Anyway, I got them and he worked for two hours on the doors and no luck. Sherri suggested the window. And once working on it, no problem. I climbed through and we were inside. YEA! I felt so much better. I thanked them, they left and we were safe inside.

Saturday -

Sherri and I got up, went shopping, bought groceries, rafts and fun things. (I got Donkey Kong cereal.) Tee HEE! After we got home, we went swimming for about 1 ½ hours. Wonderful fun!

Saturday Night -

We got spruced up and went to Johnny Brian’s to eat and listen to a band. (This place is owned by Johnny, Janie’s nephew-in-law.) They (Ruth Ann and Johnny) were there and I haven’t seen them in years. I went over and told them who I was, and they couldn’t believe it. Their oldest daughter, Holly, is 12 years old now. She was only about 6 or 7 the last time I saw her.

Anyway, the band was great. Sherri noticed that the bass player was one of the guys we had seen the night before at Eat Shop Cafe. The band’s roadie (the guy who worked the lights, etc. and checked how the band sounded from the audience) sat to the right of us. Early in the evening, I mentioned to Sherri that he looked familiar. She was wondering what he was doing with this box he was working on. He’d open it up and push buttons. She couldn’t stand it, had to know, and went over, pulled up a chair and asked him if the box was an equalizer. I was sort of embarrassed. When he smiled at her, while they were talking, he struck a strong familiar chord with me again. I watched them all the time she was over there, (about 3 to 5 minutes) and tried to figure out who he looked like. She came back over and told me that the box was to adjust the lights.

I told her again that he was extremely familiar to me, and couldn’t place him. She said that he had one of those faces that looked like a lot of people. I shunned that idea quickly, because the feeling was too strong. Then out of nowhere I said “I’ve got it! This may sound crazy, but he looks like this guy that I knew way back in sixth grade, Frank Bell.” I then proceeded to tell her that I had a secret crush on Frank all during sixth grade, even when I was going steady with someone else, I secretly liked Frank. It got almost too much to endure. I had to find out.

About that time, he walked over and said “Would you ladies like to join me over here? It gets kinda lonely sitting by mself.” I quickly got up and hollered at Sherri to come on. I figured this would be a great opportunity to find out who he really was.

We talked for a while, and then I asked him his name. He said “Frank.” My heart fluttered. The conversation went something like this.

“Is it Frank Bell?”

“Uh, yeah!” (a little dumbfounded)

“I guess you don’t know who I am?”

“Uh, no!”

“Do you remember a girl named Janie Boren?”

“Yeah, sure she was a cheerleader way back in… You’re not…”

“I surely am.”

“My God, that was grade school.”

“I know. How’s life been treating you since 6th grade?” etc.

Strange, huh? He remembers practically everything I do. He remembered me being a cheerleader, the lead in the Christmas show, (I sang for Mary etc.) This just floored me altogether. We both all night kept saying “I can’t get over this.” I kept asking if he remembered doing certain things like hitting me all the time. He kept saying “Oh, you make me feel awful.” Also he used to call me Borehog. He just blushed to that one, and said “Was I really all that awful?” I told him no, I loved the attention. I also reminded him about the time he bought a huge bag of notebook paper and asked me to count it to make sure it was there. I happily did it, and we smiled at each other the whole time.

Poor Sherri, was sort of left out in the cold. Frank walked us out to the car and got my phone number at the cabin. He wanted me to go skiing with he and some friends. I would have liked to, but Sherri and I had already planned to go to First Monday. He said he’d call about 1:00 p.m. to see for sure.

Sunday -

One o’clock on the dot, the phone rang. I had to turn him down for skiing but I gave him my address at home, and told him to write me. He said he’s a terrible writer, but he’d give it his best shot. (So many guys are bad writers, I mean, they for some reason, don't’ find the time or can’t find anything to say.) I love writing letters.

(2021 comment - I do NOT remember it this way... there's a better story to tell... hmmmmmmmmm...)

__________________________________________

Today is Tuesday. We’ll see if he writes me or what. I won’t be going down to the cabin it looks like until Fourth of July weekend. And I may not then. I’ll have to see.

I just got an invitation to LouAnn’s son’s wedding. It’s Going to be a wedding, reception and party. It ought to be fun.

MONDAY

July 11, 1983

Life has been pretty good lately. This weekend was a lot of fun. I met Thomas Moseley, his wife, Ann and daughter Elizabeth for the first time in about 17 years (maybe a little less). They came up to the cabin. Thomas is the guy who introduced Mom to Dad. He’s Mom’s first cousin and Dad’s (about) fifth cousin. He’s retired now, but was a choral director at Palestine High School. In about 30 years of teaching, he’s directed over 50 musicals. Boy, I sure wish Carroll Barnes had been more like that. Thomas said he knows Barnes, and never liked him.

THURSDAY

July 14, 1983

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYEpFJhuu1E

I am listening to the radio and Sarah Smile is playing by Hall & Oates. I think of Alex so much when I hear some of the old Hall & Oates songs. I feel sort of blue. Only about 1 hour more then I go home.

THURSDAY

July 21, 1983

Pic of Billy Bob's on Left

Sunday the 17th, Thomas Seay (believe it or not?) and I went to see Kenny Loggins in concert. We really enjoyed it. Actually, Sherri was supposed to have gone with him in the first place, but she go sick, and I went. I had to watch myself all night because she’s crazy about him. About the way I am about Roger (maybe moreso). She sees Thomas much more than I see Roger. But from what I gathered from Thomas, he’s not in the slightest bit interested in her except, of course, as a friend. He held my hand many times (a lot had to do with the fact the concert was at Billy Bob’s and it was crowded and dark.) We had to hold hands to keep together. A couple of times during the concert, I felt his arm go around me. (The seats were situated where the back of my seat was in front of his knees.) We were at a table so I could prop my right arm on the table, and occasionally he would put his arm through my right side and grab ahold of my right elbow and arm. (If that makes any sense.) I truly did not feel much for him as far as romantic feelings. I guess I feel he had his chance once, and blew it.