Birthdays past....for my sister Bonnie

I do not remember the number of this birthday, only that my dad promised me he wuld take me to his gig on the Spirit of Norfolk (or it may have been the Spirit of 76, I cannot remember)  I was very excited.

As my dad went to play in the band, I was left to my own devices.  First, I was in a little dark corner behind the stage.  As the band played, I pretended to play keyboards on his bass case behind the amp.  I felt pretty darned qualified to do it too because that week my mom got my hair cut…not in Farrah Fawcett style….because she thought Farrah was a tramp….But like Tennille of Captain and Tenille.  I had this hairstyle for longer than I cared to remember.  I promised myself if my "Captain" ever should arrive he would have to change clothes immediately. 

I got bored and I began to wander and I found myself on the dance floor.  Let me tell you, Disco and a small dance floor do not mix.  It was dangerous up there.  Incredible mix of folks:  the skilled, the unskilled, the talents found in a bottle or a beer mug….you name it…they had it….all on a postage stamp sized dance floor.

I did not want to lose an eye or an appendage on my birthday so I ventured to the deck.  I decided to greet everyone there….like Julie from the Love Boat.  No one ever thanked me for that bit of diplomacy. Not even the captain.

Went back to the buffet to see if there was anything edible or if they had a bartender like Issac…I had some preteen problems for which I was sure he had the answer.  (Fortunately, I have no idea what Gopher did on the boat so there was no need to go looking for him) 

All of a sudden, they started to announce birthdays.  And all of a sudden, I felt shy…..in this very moment…. And they called my name to come up to the stage.  And I was overcome with fear….which when I look back now….is strange.  Because of all the plays and concerts I had been in never bothered me much before.  So I crawled under the table and they kept calling my name.  I stayed there until the cruise was over.  Apparently now the captain was looking for me.  My dad told me it was so difficult to be up there playing with a straight face.  He thought I fell off the boat or something. 

We never went on another cruise again.

I probably ruined it for you Bonnie.