In 1962, I had a bicycle on which I had mounted a tractor steering wheel I picked up for fifty cents at a dump on the outskirts of Leavenworth, Kansas. The wheel was still attached to the long steel rod which ran down to the steering mechanism on the tractor, so when I got home, I took a hack saw and laboriously sawed off the universal joint dangling from its end. I removed the handlebars and steering post from my bike and tried jamming the tractor rod into the resulting hole, and what do you know but it fit!
it doesn't have to end, Tracy. you can keep the story going. put on some tunes from Spotify (whatever that is), kick your shoes off, and start adding to the happy story!
I don't listen to Spotify in support of Neil Young, who is fighting the disinformation spread on that network, but there plenty of these songs on Youtube.
As I have said more than once, these are the posts I enjoy most. They are the kind of things I write when I get around to it and your stories always remind me of my personal experiences as well. I think maybe we all have had our own version of Fawn from back in those days. Yours is different than mine, but the stories, not so dissimilar.
A bittersweet story. I would expect that over the years you must have wondered how Fawn's life ultimately turned out. Sixty years is a long time to wonder. You will always remember her as she was then, at the age of 15. That's an optimistic memory, given the odds against her achieving success or prominence in line with her natural talents, unassisted. In Kansas, as elsewhere, wealth was destiny. Given her 'bottom of the barrel' existence as a teenager, I would think that a life of penury would seem normal. What I cannot imagine is what Fawn dreamed for a future that was beyond her reach.
“Bend over, let me see you shake a tail feather!” “Do You Love Me” was Motown Records’ first hit record. Motown was the soundtrack of my high school years. Thank you for this article.
Memory Lane. In 8/3/68 at 17 I took a gorgeous grocery checker gal I met at the beach at Lavallette, NJ to the Steve Wonder and Supremes concert at the Forest Hill tennis stadium in Long Island.
We'd lost our farm to taxes, dad split, and mom and I were living in Long Island with an asshole I hated as much as he hated me.
I was working delivering heavy convertible couches to 3 story walk ups in Flushing.
I drove to Jersey City in my black '62 Oldsmoble Starfire convertible with a 448 4 barrel and burgundy bucket seats, picked her up, drove back to LI, did the concert, drove her back and then back home to LI.
From the looks of it we were the only white folks in the place and the concert was magical.
We were a fabulous match, but......... I wonder to this day.
That bicycle! I knew a kid with an automobile steering wheel on his bike. I think we were stationed at Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico at the time. Probably '69. We simultaneously listened to 45s of The Foundations singing Build Me Up Buttercup accompanied by the roar of General Dynamics F-111s departing the flight line. :-)
Kind of disturbing I remember all the lyrics to every single song mentioned in this post. And, now deconstructing "Build Me Up Buttercup" for a mental exercise.
On many Friday summer nights of 1962, my brother Nick and I would walk down to the local dance hall, Retail Clerks Auditorium, in Buena Park, Ca. I would carry along my black transistor radio. One of those evenings, Barbara Lynn came across for our first listen to "If You Lose A Good Thing". We flipped our wig Jack. The next day I was at the library for some book and magazine research. Discovered that Ms. Lynn not only wrote this unforgettable soul gem, she also played a left-handed electric guitar. I then ran over to Sears (only record store around) and bought the 45rpm for 49c. Have never spent a better amount since that day.
I loved this story. Wonder whatever happened to Fawn. I hope she had a good life. Thanks for sharing this.
Fabulous story. I didn’t want it to end.
it doesn't have to end, Tracy. you can keep the story going. put on some tunes from Spotify (whatever that is), kick your shoes off, and start adding to the happy story!
I don't listen to Spotify in support of Neil Young, who is fighting the disinformation spread on that network, but there plenty of these songs on Youtube.
As I have said more than once, these are the posts I enjoy most. They are the kind of things I write when I get around to it and your stories always remind me of my personal experiences as well. I think maybe we all have had our own version of Fawn from back in those days. Yours is different than mine, but the stories, not so dissimilar.
A bittersweet story. I would expect that over the years you must have wondered how Fawn's life ultimately turned out. Sixty years is a long time to wonder. You will always remember her as she was then, at the age of 15. That's an optimistic memory, given the odds against her achieving success or prominence in line with her natural talents, unassisted. In Kansas, as elsewhere, wealth was destiny. Given her 'bottom of the barrel' existence as a teenager, I would think that a life of penury would seem normal. What I cannot imagine is what Fawn dreamed for a future that was beyond her reach.
Perhaps she did what many do when living near the military, find a soldier, sailor, marine or airman to marry and escape.
Lucian and I are old enough to remember hearing the world's languages spoken at the px or commissary.
Love this story—from the specific Korean War story to the description of Fawn and her mother. A perfect, evocative set of moments and emotions.
“Bend over, let me see you shake a tail feather!” “Do You Love Me” was Motown Records’ first hit record. Motown was the soundtrack of my high school years. Thank you for this article.
I was at Michigan State in the 60's, can you say Dee-Troit?
Thank you for letting us end this day with pleasant memories and…a smile!
Memory Lane. In 8/3/68 at 17 I took a gorgeous grocery checker gal I met at the beach at Lavallette, NJ to the Steve Wonder and Supremes concert at the Forest Hill tennis stadium in Long Island.
We'd lost our farm to taxes, dad split, and mom and I were living in Long Island with an asshole I hated as much as he hated me.
I was working delivering heavy convertible couches to 3 story walk ups in Flushing.
I drove to Jersey City in my black '62 Oldsmoble Starfire convertible with a 448 4 barrel and burgundy bucket seats, picked her up, drove back to LI, did the concert, drove her back and then back home to LI.
From the looks of it we were the only white folks in the place and the concert was magical.
We were a fabulous match, but......... I wonder to this day.
Great story, a relief from the darkness that has descended upon us.
That bicycle! I knew a kid with an automobile steering wheel on his bike. I think we were stationed at Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico at the time. Probably '69. We simultaneously listened to 45s of The Foundations singing Build Me Up Buttercup accompanied by the roar of General Dynamics F-111s departing the flight line. :-)
Kind of disturbing I remember all the lyrics to every single song mentioned in this post. And, now deconstructing "Build Me Up Buttercup" for a mental exercise.
Winning dance contests at Teentown! When you're 15, it doesn't get any better than that.
Lovely, thanks 😊
You have such great stories about your early girlfriends they make me jealous!
Such a lovely story, Lucian, thanks!
On many Friday summer nights of 1962, my brother Nick and I would walk down to the local dance hall, Retail Clerks Auditorium, in Buena Park, Ca. I would carry along my black transistor radio. One of those evenings, Barbara Lynn came across for our first listen to "If You Lose A Good Thing". We flipped our wig Jack. The next day I was at the library for some book and magazine research. Discovered that Ms. Lynn not only wrote this unforgettable soul gem, she also played a left-handed electric guitar. I then ran over to Sears (only record store around) and bought the 45rpm for 49c. Have never spent a better amount since that day.
Barbara Lyn/"If You Should Lose Me"
https://youtu.be/d24NCaRrUKg
Great memories! Wonderfully written.