I met him at the beginning of summer knowing he'd be moving back to Missouri in the Fall. Billy, Claudia, Tom and I were together a lot that summer. Lots of going to the beach, lots and lots of partying. They had a great little house overlooking the ocean (Claudia's dad was a famous actor, who has since passed away, so at one point she had money till he cut her off - he was not a nice man so I will not mention his name).
Sometimes in the late afternoon after being on the beach all day we'd go back to the house, shower, and lie around smoking pot. For some reason, I was into giving massages at that time so we'd move a bed into the living room and push it up against the window so we could have the warm salty breeze coming in on the person I was massaging.
I would massage all three of them. Long, relaxing massages with Awaupui lotion, mmm it smelled so good.
I loved Billy. He was a good guy. I thought he was so cute. He was shorter than me, long blond hair, and the most gorgeous green eyes surrounded by thick black eyelashes. He had this deep voice, and I can still hear him calling me "Barb" (I don't like being called that but I let him get away with it).
I went to my first Springsteen concert with him (my sister was there too of course!).
At the end of the summer I had to make a decision: Should I move back to Missouri with him and start a new life there? I remember sitting in my car crying when I told him I decided not to go. He cried too. I don't think we ever spoke (or did we?). It wasn't as easy to keep in touch in the days before cell phones and Internet.
Anyhow, that's my memory today. The warm, salty breeze, the scent of Awaupui, good friends, a sweet boyfriend that falls into the large category of "was he the one I should have stayed with?".
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I will scan a photo of him later and put it up here.
This was beautiful. And a little painful at the end. I'll cry with your past self for a moment. Love. :-)
ReplyDeleteawww,...I love this story....and oh Barbara,..by the way, how lucky have you been to have been young and wonderful in such a place as Laguna Beach ? ...or young in So. California in general ? I still miss it there so much. And yes...those were the days... :)
ReplyDeleteJust beautiful. Wish sometime I can visit such a place - though I guess the special moment is gone by then, huh? Whilst you had "love and peace"... aw, well, I grew up with The Greens...
ReplyDeleteGlad you have such sweet memories (still waiting for the pic ;-)...)
Lori, I know how lucky I was. I have many, many stories like that one. It really was the best time of my life other than the early years of motherhood.
ReplyDeleteIris, I just looked up The Greens to see what it was. Very interesting. I'd like to hear more about how that played into your growing up years.
I'd love to see a photo of Billy. What an amazing memory.
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