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.
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.
Bettye sitting in the peacock chair at her bachelorette party in my apartment.
The peacock chair today in my bedroom. It has lost a few pieces along the way, but is in pretty good shape.
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