Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Just a Party Animal

I can only remember having one birthday party when I was a child. There may have been others, but they must have been before I started school, because I can't remember any after I was about six years old.

When I was around nine or ten, my mother let me have a skating party for my birthday. It was all the rage back then for kids to have their parties at the skating rink in Little Rock. It was easier on the moms, too, because we were allowed to have cake and ice cream and open presents, and they didn't have to figure out what games for us to play because we were highly entertained by just skating around and around and around. My memory of those days is pretty sketchy, but I think the skating rink allowed the parties on the days that they were closed, so we could have the rink to ourselves and not bother other skaters.

Anyhoo, in those days, I was in love with Roy Rogers, from afar, and Conrad Rotenberry, who was closer to home. My little elementary school romance was short-lived, because the next year, Conrad and his family moved away and I never knew where he went and never heard from him again. But, I remember the present he gave me - a photograph album. I loved it. I thought it was a very grown-up gift.

As a matter of fact, I still have it. Every time I open it to look at the photos, I see the birthday message he wrote (printed) and signed. Sigh.

The only other birthday party I remember was in college. My roommate surprised me at the school newspaper office with a cake and all of the staff sang Happy Birthday and finished off the cake. It was fun. I was twenty, and that's the year I suffered a case of unrequited love for Bart, who was also on the staff. Bart was a rebel. He was dashing and daring, tall, dark, and that SMILE!

Oops! I seem to have wandered off onto memory lane. Ah, well. Those were the days. Gone, all gone. Snif.

Stay tuned.

24 comments:

Kay Dennison said...

Only birthday party I ever had was my 22nd. I was flat on my back in the hospital with a fractured neck and about two dozen friends crammed themselves in my private room to surprise me. None before that; none since. No one usually even calls.

Looking to the Stars said...

I'll walk down memory lane with you any old time. As long as you have your memories they won't be gone :)

Kell said...

Happy Birthday!!!!1

kenju said...

Back again, to say Happy Birthday - again. It must be the advent of spring, because I am wandering off into the past and my very own "Bart(s)" here lately. I've even dreamed of a few.

Queen-Size funny bone said...

with six kids in my family we only had family parties. I would of loved to have a real kids party when I was a young girl.

Cazzie!!! said...

Betty, those days are not all gone, you have them with you always :)
I love roller rink parties, what a hoot. Te best ones by far are the impromptu ones where everyone who wants to be there is there and you enjoy it yourself.
Happy birthday Betty, I am glad it was a wonderful one :)

Desert Songbird said...

Jay sent me by to say Happy Birthday!

Arkansas Patti said...

Happy Birthday Betty.
Wonderful memories are what makes the pains of aging bearable. I too loved Roy Rogers to distraction.Those eyes!! I even ran away from home at 10 to go join him. Only got a few blocks from home though. Jimmy was my non movie star love. Lover Boy Tynes, I'll never forget him. Enjoy.

Melissa said...

Happy birthday, Betty! Some good birthday memories there, and how neat that you still have the photo album from Conrad.

Have a wonderful year!

Anonymous said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BETTY.

Aren't you lucky to have such nice memories of friends and times gone by? I know you cherish them or you wouldn't remember them so well.

I remember really disliking Dale because she had Roy and I wanted him...

Ima Wizer said...

Happy Birthday, Betty and I DO remember parties at the roller rink and the organ player.....and not many other birthday parties. Have a great new year!

Evil Twin's Wife said...

Here from Jay's to wish you a Happy Birthday!

Dianne said...

Happy Birthday Hot Stuff!!

Lisa said...

Happy Birthday, Betty! I hope you won't mind (stop reading now if you do), but I am an obsessive online researcher and wanted to know what happened to your Conrad.

Is this him?
http://www.coveragebyconrad.com/
If it is, I can see why you were charmed by him--he is quite charismatic, even on a web site!

KathyA said...

Happy Birthday and many, many more. Let us know if you find Conrad!

Betty said...

Thank you all for your kind birthday wishes.

Lisa: Good heavens! It must be MY Conrad. How many boys with that name could have been born that very year?

Did you simply Google him? It never occurred to me to do that.

He probably doesn't remember me.

Thanks.

Chancy said...

Happy Birthday Betty

I was a depression child so
I never had a birthday party until I was grown and married. I have made up on lost parties since then. :)

Anonymous said...

Belated Birthday wishes..
Ps..I love your header photo of your dog with a halo. Very cute.

Vinny "Bond" Marini said...

HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY MS. JAY'S MOM!

Betty said...

chancy: I may have had other birthday parties - I went to plenty of them for my friends, but I just can't remember them.

k: I thought the halo was fitting, because she's in Doggie Heaven, now.

Bond: Thanks for coming over!

Scarlet said...

Happy Birthday to You...and many more!!

Lisa said...

Betty, I hope you didn't mind my snoopy research--it's a sickness of mine. Yes, I simply Googled him, and he came up as one of the very first hits, perhaps because he's in Texas and so am I. I thought it might be him because of the Little Rock connection. And I'll bet he would remember you!

Lu' said...

Hey there Jay's Mamma. Happy Belated Birthday :)

MarmiteToasty said...

Happy belated birthday wishes dear you.........

x