Beth and Deb, BFF

I knew Beth and Debbie long ago.  They influenced me in ways neither ever knew, until today.

Deb first.  Boy, could she sing. I wanted to ask her to sing at my wedding, but Pastor wouldn't allow it. Deb was popular with EVERYONE, boys and the girls, in the clique or out of it.  Her parents must have been bursting with pride at the kudos she easily collected. They were well-deserved.  I remember going to a sign-in party where Deb was gathering signatures for some kind of "best-school" contest; I don't remember the details.  She was so nice! not a snob bone in her.  Even thirty years later, after her illnesses had taken their toll, I ran into Debbie at a craft show. Still the same grin, the same hello. When Deb passed away, I joined the hundreds who mourned.

Then there's Beth.  Little did Beth know back then, or until now, how much I looked up to her.  I listened to every word when Miss Kaminsky had Beth give a "fashion talk" each Friday in homeroom 114. ("Red-heads should always wear pink. Pink and red are sensational together!" I was an auburn-haired miss off and on for years after that.)  I bought a burgundy skirt and tennis sweater, and we wore them because Beth and Deb did.  I wanted their short skirts and bright smiles, too!

One day after gym class we were changing in the locker room, other girls laughing and chatting, me hiding as best I could in case the rumor was true that the boys had a hole in the wall where they peeked at us.   The secret was out--panty hose! They called them "opera hose";  one of them had a cousin or aunt or whoever who wore them to dance!  I went right out looking for panty hose, but at $3.00 a pair they were too steep for my piddly allowance. I begged until I got them.  Funny thing, today I am looking for old-fashioned stockings and garters!

Beth could sing, too, and still does.  Not the lilting coloratura, but a soulful, gutsy sound.  School dances weren't the same unless Beth, Deb and the boys (Kevin and Bob were two, I think) were belting out "White Rabbit".

A few months ago, I joined Facebook and "friended" Beth.  She's become a help with my blog, with sound advice and a general feeling of not being totally forgotten.  I look at her friend list, see people I remember well, and wonder if they remember me. There are very few Beths around.  Right now, she's giving me ideas to make my blog a little more exciting to look at.  I will try, Beth, I will try.  Her blog, SingingirlCooks! has provided some much-need menu changes, with a little taste of life in Florida, too. (Nice plug, huh, Beth?) 
I've had some successes of my own these many years since high school.  There are more people I want as "friends", including the whole class of '68, '69 and '70.  I haven't approached them because I, after all, am not as memorable as Beth and Deb. The reunion is in 2014.  I hope by then I will have the confidence to say, "Hi, remember me?"

SingingGirl, keep cookin'.  Keep in touch. You go, girl.

Geez, I love Facebook!