BLAZING STAR BOOKS
Connect with us:
  • Home
  • Books On Sale
  • Edifications From Elaine
  • Publishing Services
  • Press Page
  • Speaking Engagement Info
  • Contact Us

Those Were the Days!

2/28/2023

0 Comments

 
January 1981. Forty-two years ago. I was in my last semester of college at Tarleton State University, had pretty well recovered from the devastating broken heart six months prior, was fresh off a rebound relationship with a young, blonde, freshman that served its purpose, was free and twenty-three, and had the world by the tail. I got the part of Elaine in the TSU production of “Arsenic and Old Lace.” I shared a decent two-bedroom apartment with a cool gal from Colombia. We ate Ramen noodles with sour cream mixed in and sat on tacky lawn furniture at the makeshift table. I had good friends, a fast car, and my daddy’s Gulf gas card.

One nice piece of furniture in the apartment was the rattan peacock chair my sister brought back from Burma and gave to me when I was in high school. I still have that chair in my bedroom fifty years later. The bedroom suit I used in 1981 was kept for some thirty-five years before we sold it to someone in need. There was a Duncanville Panther sticker on the mirror. I added a TSU sticker. I won’t go into the visitors I had in that bedroom, but, I had fun seducing a few guys. That was some three months before I met Glenn. After finding him, there was no need to “make myself available.”

Back to the play. I had to wear false eyelashes, wear heavy makeup, and roll my long hair into a hairstyle of the 1940s. When I took that roll down, the hair went wild. One night, after the play, I left all the extreme makeup and false eyelashes on, (funny how those things are in style now) and went to an apartment where some friends were having a party. I felt rather manic and looked like something out of Rocky Horror Picture Show. That freshman ex-boyfriend was sitting on the floor and seemed pretty drunk when he said, “I used to know her.” I tossed my head with the crazy hair flying, and quoted a line from the movie, “But not anymore!”
​
It is odd to realize that was forty-two years ago. I don’t feel that much older! Looking at that peacock chair, I can transport back to that time, when, as Rick Springfield sang in the 1981 song, “I’m going out on the town tonight to get as wild as I can be. I’m gonna find out what it’s really like to be loose, high, and free.” High on fun. Loose and free to do as I pleased. Me, the green Nova, my friends, and the unique time bring a smile to my face and make me want to go Ridin' Around. 
Picture
Bettye sitting in the peacock chair at her bachelorette party in my apartment.
Picture
The peacock chair today in my bedroom. It has lost a few pieces along the way, but is in pretty good shape.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Elaine Fields Smith

    Just a good, ol' gal with a little talent for writing.

    Archives

    February 2023
    November 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    August 2021
    January 2021
    May 2019
    December 2017
    January 2017
    February 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    January 2014
    October 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013

    Categories

    All
    Cancer
    Cat
    Cat Litter
    Elaine Smith
    Facebook
    Fate
    Friends
    Keith Reynolds
    Kitten
    Legal
    Love
    Money
    Music
    Nightmare
    Power
    Ridin' Around
    Steve Miller Band
    Twitter
    Video Game
    Wile E Coyote
    Worry
    Yoga
    Zen

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.