I can see/appreciate a lot of what Sapient mentioned during that period, but ive always survived by creating a bubble for myself.
Like, in my car, there's nothing butc1970's & 1980's music. Its like a time machine..
Summer of 1990 was probably the most fun i ever had with my little group of friends.
In December 1989, I had just moved back to the Central Valley after failing to "make it" on the Sunset Strip and doing guitar tech work. It was a tough time for me.
I hooked up with my only constant chum from my youth and we started cruising Visalia every weekend looking for street races. He introduced me to some of his friends (he was a few years younger than me) and we created this crazy little clique that all liked beer, fast cars and cruising.
I raced a guy one night, (on Avenue 272 in Visalia just east of Highway 99) betting a $100 bill against his GF spending the rest of the night cruising with me. My 429 SCJ killed his 454 Camaro and i got the girl on the spot.
The girl left him that night and her and I dated for three years. She took me home to meet her parents that night and her mom just liked me right from the get-go. The girl (Monica) and i are still friends on Facebook. We likely would have stayed together long term, but she had a scholarship opportunity and i encouraged her to take it, even though it meant her going far, far away.
She told me a couple of years ago that i was the only person in her life that encouraged her and made her feel empowered...like she could do anything, and she said that kept her going through the dark times.
She also told me that she still has my class ring and still wears it on a pendant.
I still have Kodak Disc negatives (remember those???) With pics from that time period, but dont know how we would ever get them developed.
We had so much fun that summer....
The local drive in had recently gone bankrupt and the elevated projector room was our favorite hideaway.
A mutual friend had worked there and had keys, so we turned it into a private hideout. We had lava lamps and black light posters, plus beads we gleaned from some friends. It was a very cool place with a great view looking north.
Monica told me one afternoon that she was the only one of her GF's that had never had a 'real sexual experience,' other than just fooling around and she said she wanted to 'go all the way.'
I told her that i really liked her and was wildly attracted to her, but cautioned her that this was a big step and suggested she think about it and discuss it with her Mom.
The Mom asked to meet with us both (Monica wasn't quite 18 yet) and she told me how happy she was that i had so much respect for her daughter and the mom told Monica (right there) that she was giving her permission to do what she wanted too, as long as we were "responsible."
So, when i say this was a "great summer," it was great on just so many levels.
Today, all that remains is the Theatre sign...
