The Yearbook: Brad

The year was 1982. We danced to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” album and watched “E.T.” on the silver screen. John Belushi died and Prince William was born. We exercised  to Jane Fonda video tapes and never missed watching “Dynasty” on TV. Gas cost 91 cents a gallon and a stamp two dimes. We were spooked by the Tylenol scare and held our breath as the recession began.

It was a year of promise and pain, of sweetness and sorrow.

But it was OUR year. 

We were the Class of 1982, and we were ready to take on the world.   

Brad (Yearbook post)

Gina, To one of the nicest looking girls I know. Keep up the good looks and if you’re ever free, let me know.

Brad

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2/28/12

Dick! That’s what Brad was. I guess I should feel honored that he referred to me as nice looking. Even if someone had offered me a hundred bucks to go out with him, I wouldn’t have. The guy was a jerk with a capital J.

 He thought that his GQ-ish looks entitled him to whatever girl he wanted. And, of course, most girls oohed and aahed over his defined pecs and bulging biceps. And his tight ass. Not me. I wasn’t the least bit interested, which pissed him off, I think.

He was one of the guys who used Julie and when he got tired of her, discarded her like one of his  sweaty workout towels.

I hope that he’s fat and out of shape. And ugly. Serves him right. He broke so many hearts and never once said sorry. Screw you, Brad. (That felt good.)      

Other posts in this blog series

Julie

J.R.

Lauren

NOTE:  Each Tuesday and Friday meet another member of the Class of 1982. 

Your wilderness story

I sat in church and listened to Pastor Greg’s sermon today about Jesus going into the wilderness for forty days (Mark 1:9-15).  He said that we all have our wilderness stories, times in our lives when things didn’t go right, times when we’ve endured pain and suffering.

“Some of you might be in the wilderness now,” he said. “Jesus went into the wilderness as a carpenter’s son and came out the Messiah.”

 He told us to find meaning in our wilderness, to find glimmers of grace. That even though we feel alone, God has been with us the whole time. 

"The person who comes out of that wilderness experience is different and better than the person who went in," he said. "Go into that wilderness and find God."

It's not always easy finding meaning in bad things. Mostly I get pissed off. I mean, what's good about a loved one dying of cancer or a toddler drowning in a backyard pool? But I have to agree with Pastor Greg that every wilderness experience has led to a new and improved me. I've felt closer to God every time and more determined that, while I might not understand the life he has planned for me, I'm going to live it the best way I know how. 

I hope that if you are in a wilderness experience, that you stay strong and remember that God is with you always. God bless....

The Yearbook: Lauren

 The year was 1982. We danced to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” album and watched “E.T.” on the silver screen. John Belushi died and Prince William was born. We exercised  to Jane Fonda video tapes and never missed watching “Dynasty” on TV. Gas cost 91 cents a gallon and a stamp two dimes. We were spooked by the Tylenol scare and held our breath as the recession began.

It was a year of promise and pain, of sweetness and sorrow.

But it was OUR year. 

We were the Class of 1982, and we were ready to take on the world.   

Lauren (Yearbook post)

Gina,

To a very close friend of mine that I hope will stay close to. This year was kind of rough for us all, with the problems we had, but I’m glad everything has worked out. Never forget the good times in English.  Stay the way you are (your sweetness, personality, and looks) and you will have many friends. Take care and we’ll all have to get together over the summer.

Love, Lauren

P.S. Get psyched for the prom 

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2/24/12

Lauren and I didn’t stay close. We lost touch after graduation. It was probably my fault. I was too wrapped up in Mike and spent most of my free time with him. School was the magnet that drew us together and when it ended, so did many of the friendships. It wasn’t an instant thing, more like something that happened without me realizing it. Like summer slipping into fall. I woke up and thought about Lauren and realized I hadn’t talked to her in weeks. The weeks became months and the months became years and the more time that passed the harder it became to reach out.

The Yearbook: J.R.

The year was 1982. We danced to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” album and watched “E.T.” on the silver screen. John Belushi died and Prince William was born. We exercised  to Jane Fonda video tapes and never missed watching “Dynasty” on TV. Gas cost 91 cents a gallon and a stamp two dimes. We were spooked by the Tylenol scare and held our breath as the recession began.

It was a year of promise and pain, of sweetness and sorrow.

But it was OUR year. 

We were the Class of 1982, and we were ready to take on the world.   

James Robert (Yearbook post)

Gina, Oh well, here I go again trying to think of what to write in someone’s yearbook. It just so happens that yours is the hardest. You’ve affected my life so many times and in so many ways that I don’t know what to say. You made me realize things about other people and about myself. I’ve done super stupid things that I wish I could do over, but once you do them it’s too bad. Knowing what you would do in the situation really helps me a lot because believe it or not, I know you better than I know myself. I just don’t have any confidence (sometimes) and I always expect the worst (but that’s good in some cases, because I’m ready for the worst when it does happen). As I was saying you know what you want and you stick to it, because you have a great head on your shoulders (wise and sharp looking).

The time I’ve spent with you over the past year has really been great. I know I’m probably a pain in your ass, but I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately and aside from one incident, I’ve changed a lot. I hope you don’t change because you don’t have to (you shouldn’t).  I’m starting to run out of space and I have a hundred other things to write, so I’ll sum it up and say: “You’re one hell of a friend and I hope you keep in touch with me even when you’re in your 60s.” You’re closer to me than any one of my other friends so keep out of trouble and don’t get that pretty little head of yours into a bum situation.

Love always,

J.R.

..........................

2/21/12

Every time I’m home visiting my parents, I drive by the house where J.R. grew up. I loved J.R. like a brother and felt badly that I wasn’t able to love him in the way he loved me. I tried to, but it just didn’t work. Maybe I was afraid of ruining what we had. I was closer to him than I was to many of my girlfriends, and there were things that we talked about that I could never have talked about with them.

The Yearbook: Julie

The year was 1982. We danced to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” album and watched “E.T.” on the silver screen. John Belushi died and Prince William was born. We exercised  to Jane Fonda video tapes and never missed watching “Dynasty” on TV. Gas cost 91 cents a gallon and a stamp two dimes. We were spooked by the Tylenol scare and held our breath as the recession began.

It was a year of promise and pain, of sweetness and sorrow.

But it was OUR year. 

We were the Class of 1982, and we were ready to take on the world.   

  

Julie (Yearbook post/1982)

Gina,

To a cool girl who always seems to be there just in case someone needs her. You are a very super person. You have never made me feel dumb and you never seem to mind that I’m not exactly a “scholar” – you talk and laugh and are friends with me anyway. We’ll have to do something together sometime. I wish you much happiness and lots of luck in whatever you do. You have a lot going for you – you are just a swell person!!! I hope we never lose touch! Have a nice summer!!

Always, Julie

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2/16/12

The thing I remember about Julie is her skin. She had the most beautiful skin, especially to a teenager who battled acne with a cabinet full of crap that left my skin dry and red and flaky – not smooth like hers. She had an easy smile, like a morning glory’s petals unfurling when they are kissed by a new day. 

We first met in junior high social studies class. Even then she was a beauty. And it’s her beauty that attracted the guys, although they never seemed to hang around for long.

One time in high school, I found her crying in the bathroom. Her mascara ran down her pink cheeks and her hair was a tangled mess of black.

“Julie, what’s wrong?” I asked.

“Everything,” she said. “My life sucks. I’m tired of being used.”

Would you keep reading?

Opening to WIP

The bastard was dead.

I stared at the newspaper clipping Mom had sent me. I had read his obituary online, but seeing it on paper in front of me made it more real. Kind of like watching the Wicked Witch of the West melt in the “Wizard of Oz” – all the evil you loath becoming a puddle of nothing.

“Richard M. Smith, 61, was ushered into Heaven on Saturday, February 11, 2012, surrounded by his family at his home.”

I’m pretty sure he went to Hell.

“He was a loving husband, devoted father and dedicated coach.”

He was the biggest asshole on this side of the Mason-Dixon Line. Maybe on the whole East Coast. Oh, what the hell, let’s just say the entire country. You get the point, he was an A-S-S-H-O-L-E, and I hated him more than I’ve ever hated anyone in my life.

Mostly because he ruined it.

Google tells a sweet story

Today's Google Doodle tells a sweet story. Boy likes girl. Boy tries to show girl he likes her. Nothing boy tries works. Boy gives up and joins girl in jumping rope. Boy inadvertently discovers way to girl's heart.

Other than Tony Bennett singing, there are no words. The actions tell the story. Talk about showing and not telling.

Timing is everything...

Pastor Marty’s sermon today was about timing. How timing is everything – in sports, music, life in general.

Anyone who has ever played golf or tennis knows that if your timing is off, your game will suffer.  Same goes for singing or playing a musical instrument.

Pastor Marty reminded us how when we were teens, we’d wait for the perfect moment to ask our parents for the keys to the car or to stay out extra late. (I’m not sure I ever mastered the when-to-ask-mom-and-dad thing.) He pointed out how husbands and wives wait for the right time to have a difficult conversation (Translation: hit significant other when he/she is in a good mood).

Timing is everything.

So what does timing have to do with religion or writing? Hang in there, and I’ll explain.

I'm inspired by...

Here are some of the things that inspire me.

*The painting of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane that hangs in the front of the sanctuary.


*People who give not because they want recognition, but because they truly want to make the world a better place.

*Children laughing themselves silly.

*People who live their faith, despite the many challenges they face.

*Marathon runners for their commitment and perseverance.

*The smell that permeates the air after the grass has been cut or a summer rain has ended.

 What inspires you?

Charles Dickens 200th birthday

Google Doodle honors the 200th birthday of author Charles Dickens. I posted about it here. 

poll by twiigs.com

Metaphor Monday

"Metaphors have a way of holding the most truth in the least space." --Orson Scott Card 

Write a sentence using a metaphor. Or share one from your work.

Jump on the Pinterest bandwagon

Are you on Pinterest? If not, consider joining the social pinboarding site. It's way fun and another avenue to promote you and your work. Random House is among the publishers who are active on Pinterest. It's created boards ranging from Favorite Books from Our Childhood to Killer Coffee Books.

As an author, you can use Pinterest to promote you and your work. Here are some of the boards I've created:

Books I've read in 2012

Author Buffy Andrews  (This would look way cooler if I had real book covers!)

AKA Literary  (I will modify the settings on this board to allow others from agency to pin to it)

Old books

Bookshelves

Think Pink

Lime-tastic

Buffy's World Campaign

Joe Paterno

Joe Paterno newspaper front pages

Smart magazine (My team produces this bi-monthly glossy women's magazine)

Smart magazine Valentine's Contest

I also post as YDR on Pinterest. Here are some of the boards I created under this account:

Vacation with YDR

Sharp-dressed shoes contest

Pets in Halloween costumes

As you can see, the possibilities are endless. You could create a board with covers of your fave books or a board for the items that inspire you in your writing journey. 

If you're on Pinterest, do you have any tips to share?

ALSO,
21 must-follow Pinterest users from Mashable

How to get a Pinterest invite/Mashable