The Westgate Mall

    I'd like to get in a few fond memories over the next few days if I can...here's how it all began for Kim and I...
 Back in 1976, when we were in 7th grade, the 'cool' thing to do was to walk up to the mall with your buddies and hang out at Record City, seeing what new vinyl had come in.  I'll never forget that November day, when Jim Durner, Jerry Mooney and myself were flipping through 45's, looking for our favorite singles.  My buddy, Jerry, was looking out of the store into the mall and said 'wow...' we all looked up and saw two girls going past...we went out into the mall and followed them.  In front of a store called Hickory Farms, one of them glanced over her shoulder - freezing me with deep blue eyes...locking for one sweet moment...and I was lost.  We followed her, Kimmy of course, and her friend, Tracy (they have been great friends all of these years!), but I could not find the courage to speak to someone so beautiful...
    I couldn't get her off of my mind the rest of the weekend.  Imagine my surprise, on Monday morning, when this radiant young lady walked into my English class, in slow motion, catching my eyes, briefly, before sitting down.  I couldn't believe I hadn't seen her before and made every effort to impress her over the next few weeks.  Of course, I didn't know what to say, so I relied on other ways to win her over...
    The next day, I got to English early, and climbed into a large, armoir like bookcase that we had in class, knowing the teacher would open it first thing, as we were reading 'The Pearl', as a class.  When she swung open the double doors, there I sat on a shelf, pretending to be engrossed in the book.  I casually got up, walked to my seat, like it was perfectly natural for me to be in there, saying nothing.  It got a good laugh, and I was warmed to see, the girl of my dreams, Kim, spare me a smile, which lit me up for the rest of my life.  The classroom was on the first floor, and sometimes, when the teacher's back was to the class, I'd get up and hop out of the window.  I'd come back in through the front door and get back to my seat.  I was very mature, eh?
   Over the next few weeks, I was finally able to bring myself to speak to her and found her so incredibly down to earth, with a soft, angelic voice and a wonderful laugh...over the next four months or so, we dated and became great friends - my very first for real girlfriend.  We loved to walk home after school together, holding hands, and grab a twin pop at Mike's corner store on 7th and Union Blvd - her favorite was vanilla flavor, mine rootbeer.  I would often ride my skateboard the three blocks down the street from my house to hers, bringing with me my posse of friends to further impress her with how cool I was.  We'd sit on her front porch and talk.
   School dances were the best.  Again, I'd be with all of my friends, and when a slow song came on, Kim and I would go out and dance together...she always smelled so good!  After the dance, we'd walk the couple of miles to Burger King and eat burgers and then walk slowly home, not wanting the evening to end...
   This was the beginning of 33 years of friendship...Thank you Kimmy, I love you...
Love, Dave