Flashback Friday

Me—1972

This is my Facebook profile picture. I thought it was pretty safe that no one would ever remember THIS girl. I know I had forgotten her. But then, when I found the picture, it all came flooding back. Okay, maybe more like trickling---it’s a process people—one that seems to involve water---anyways….


Here are a few of the things I remember about this day:

*I remember this was the first time I was ever on a “real” stage.

*I remember this was taken in Fairbanks, Alaska

*I remember this was the first bodysuit/leotard I had ever worn. It had snaps in the crotch area. Kinda like a baby “onesie” for big kids. I remember trying to get this on in a bathroom stall. I couldn’t get mine to stay snapped. I would straighten up and start to put on that spiffy vest with streamer thingie and the bodysuit would fly up and hit me in the face. Over and over again till I finally had to straddle the toilet and push those snaps closed with all my little might for it to stay hooked. I also remember walking like I had ridden a horse for 5 days the whole time I had it on.

*I remember the grown-ups demanding that I take off my glasses so there would be no “glare”. I also remember that they gave them back after they pushed me out on stage for that picture and I promptly walked right off the edge of the stage. But I did it with a smile on my face and my arms in the “proper” position, by golly.

(When I was 18 months old, I got my first pair of glasses. Apparently my little toddling self kept crashing into doors and walls until they finally took me in to see what the matter was. Yeah—pretty much legally blind))

*I remember this was it—I was hooked on performing—blinded by the spotlight—tripping up and down stairs----falling into the orchestra pit-snaps riding up in odd places--wanting to be on stage for the rest of my life—HOOKED