I thought it would be interesting to read about how 1969 affected/impressed people. What were you going through, what were your plans, what did you like, who did you like, etc.? More is better in this segment. -LC
My take on 1969 may be a bit different because we had been living in Brazil since June of 1967. When we flew back in January of '69, the first thing my older brother Bruce and I did was go into the parking lot of the Miami airport and look at the cars -- we'd read about muscle cars in Time magazine, but had never seen one. I remember seeing a bright green AMX and then a Roadrunner, and probably said something profound, like, 'Wow!'
It was the same with the music. We'd caught bits and pieces of what was happening with music in the US, but we're floored by what we heard when we returned. 'White Room', 'Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show', 'Morning Girl', hearing 'Rocky Raccoon' and 'All Along the Watch Tower' for the first time (on a little Nikko FM receiver amidst a living room full of junk we'd just pulled out of our Brazilian packing crate). Music was just exploding. Little Willy Sunshine on KRIZ (soon to be 'William Edward Compton'). Crosby Still & Nash just releasing 'Marrekesh Express'.
And American girls. Oh my oh my oh my. What had we been missing! Not that I really could do much about it because I was so shy, but there were so many girls at Tempe High in 1969 that were outstanding! Mini skirts! Cheryl Teagues! Then a very cute girl from Scottsdale, who I'd known from church, tricked me into kissing her - my first! A late blooming idiot I was, but blooming nevertheless. I probably said 'Wow!' again. She had a 1960 soft top Beetle, and I remember driving with her and hearing ‘You’ve Made Me So Very Happy’, and tearing up because it was all just fantastically wonderful.
Lots and lots of changes hit very fast, some not great. Graduation, registering for the draft, working (worked for Julie Phillips' parents helping her dad, who had MS), taking the SAT, my mom having a nervous breakdown and everything at home becoming unhinged, having a huge argument with my dad over my girlfriend and leaving home the next day on my 18th birthday, buying a motorcycle, renting a trailer with no heat up in Scottsdale ($70/mo), getting a Navy peacoat and growing my hair out, having fun, but feeling very, very aimless and unsure. Talking with Jack Hunter as he pumped gas up in Scottsdale near my trailer. Gas wars! I could fill up the Bug for $2.
Vietnam. Going to the Lutheran Student Center and talking with a counselor about becoming a conscientious objector. I hadn’t thought a bit of it through, and was just taking direction from my girlfriend, looking for a way to avoid having to go to Vietnam. I wish I could say that I had some sort of faith life back then, but I didn’t. I don’t think I ever thought about God, and if I did, it was thinking that he was a mean spoil sport.
Looking back now, and having a 20 year old son to compare myself to, I can’t imagine how incredibly young and ignorant I was – how young we all were. And, even though I was going through some pretty heavy emotional stuff, how incredibly fortunate I was to be growing up during that time, especially for the music. If I have any regrets, they are: that I didn’t date any Tempe girls, and that I didn’t get to know more of you. Given the circumstances, it really wasn’t possible, though I did exit Tempe High with a few good buds that I still stay in touch with, Greg Campbell and Marco Tyler. It’s been nice meeting up with people over the reunions, too.
Your honesty is refreshing, to say the least. And much appreciated. My life wasn't really much different. I didn't have to worry about the draft, and yes, I went to ASU for 4 years, but I also felt aimless and unsure. I hung out with Pat Willoughby right up to the time she left for New York (hey, she went to college in the western part of the state, not NYC) and Jill Boyd until she left for Pocatello, Idaho and Ricks College. I felt alone, but this forced me to reach out to other people. Then ASU started and I discovered it wasn't what I thought it was going to be at all. It was classes held in auditoriums and professors full of themselves. I also loved the music, and I remember hearing Elvis, Peter Paul and Mary, Harry Nilssen, The Beatles, Led Zepplin and all the party music blasting from Sin City on the weekends. 'In the Year 2525' was a huge hit that summer, and Jill and I danced at the V.I. to that song as well as countless CCR songs, Sly and the Family Stone songs and Stevie Wonder tunes. Once ASU started, I worked in Hayden Library and wrote letters to Jill about how life had changed and I wasn't sure it was for the better. I started wearing more make-up and grew my hair out as long as it would grow. I walked along the ASU Mall and wondered where all this would go for me. By December 1969 I had a huge crush on a 25 year old guy named Rich who'd served in Vietnam and was attending ASU on the GI bill. Looking back, it was foolish of me to think I meant anything to him, and it took me a long time to get over him. I lived at home that first semester but my mother had no control over me - I came and went as I pleased. Not without argument, to be sure, and in January 1970 I flew the coop, finally at open war with my mother. I moved to Sin City with 2 girls who'd gone to McClintock, LuAnn Patzer and Peggy Turner. That lasted about 4 months. But I wouldn't go home, not for another few months. So I moved into a friend's mother's house that was like jumping from the frying pan right into the fire. Hippies! VW busses! Pot! People doing strange things at all hours of the day and night. Ah yes, 1969. A time of foolish youth and decisions based on no life experience! Would I do it again? Hard to say what I'd do differently, because for me, it was more about discovering myself and maybe all those crazy days were necessary.
In 1969 my favorite music was anything by the Beatles (in the early years, Hard Day's night, She Loves You) The Beach Boys & Glen Campbell (Gently On My Mind).
I also remember seeing the 'death totals' from the Viet Nam war every night on TV.
While at THS, I had a cheer sponsor (Not Mrs. DeVinny) ask me if I had 'gained weight' over the summer. I had, but this comment devastated me. I then wrestled with 'body image' for probably half my life, believing if I wasn't thin, I had no value. Thankfully, I have overcome that lie, with great support, professional help & my faith.
As a student at ASU, I felt lost after coming from the cocoon of THS & I lived at home. Eddie Grant & I had dated off & on throughout HS. He went to UofA & I wanted to date some college boys & go to the football games, so we 'broke up'. I dated several guys my freshman year, then realized how much I loved Eddie. We were engaged at 19yrs. & married at 21yrs. We've been married 41.5yrs.
My kids get a kick out of the prayer I prayed in high school for some of the guys I dated, 'God bless Rudy, Scooter, Peter, Stretch, Tim, Eddie, John, Paul, Tom & Tom'. If you think you're names in there, they probably are! My sister told me years later, that Stretch was a biker! I swear I didn't know that even though he showed up on a Harley. I even remember burning my leg on the muffler...Hello!
I remember also Tom Whately coming to pick me up one afternoon to go to the Lake. He came to the door with no shirt on. My Dad answered & told him to go put one on before he let me go.
I enjoyed such innocent dating at THS. I could go out with one guy on Friday night & another on Saturday & you weren't cheating. I never kissed a boy until the 3rd date either.
I was so innocent, naive & fearful of disappointing my parents so I pretty much, kept my nose clean.
My mother left my father a month or two before graduation, so I felt like I stumbled across the finish line. Getting to college was a relief; I loved it right away.
