Thursday, May 23, 2013

When We Shook Walls and Scared Cats

Breakfast, May 23, 2013

Returning from a quiet breakfast today I put my key into the front door of our apartment building. Just as I turn the doorknob I hear a car radio behind me playing Jessie's Girl, loudly, and I think back to a summer in Junior High.

We'd moved into an apartment "in town" and my younger sister and I would blast this song, and a variety of others, when my father wasn't home. One day a little old lady, apparently our neighbor, knocked on our door and asked us to please turn down the music because we were shaking her walls and scaring her cat. We shut the door, turned down the music, and proceeded to laugh hysterically.

The car stayed parked out front for a while, Rick Springfield belting out his lyrics about Jessie, hoping to soothe his longing.

Thinking of you today, little sis.

Original Jessie's Girl video on YouTube

22 comments:

  1. i heard that song the other day at a taco joint and it brought back memories of fun time (though nothing as funny as your neighbor lady).

    ReplyDelete
  2. There's nothing like being young and just a teeny bit bad. My version involves sitting in the back of the school bus, belting the lyrics from Mellencamp's "Jack and Diane."

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Agreed. Good song, Rachael. I have my own memories attached to Jack and Diane. Listening to a confession from a best friend in high school while we drifted in an inflatable boat on an AZ lake.

      Delete
  3. i remember jessie's girl from my roller skating days. recently, this song just popped into my mind. how funny that you are thinking of it, too.

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a cute and fun memory to have... I can see you...how you laugh, and imagining the cat lady hearing you :-)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Your delightful memory makes me smile. What teenage or pre-teen girl didn't swoon over Rick Springfield? But making the walls shake--that's something!

    ReplyDelete
  6. sweetest thing I've read all day. And now you made me think of similar moments with my own sister, who lives thousands of miles away from me: thank you!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I bet you've had some good times together. More to come!

      Delete
  7. I needed to smile. And as ever, you deliver.

    xo jane

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love how memories spark things for us all. And Jesse's Girl makes me want to boogie.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Wall-shaking, cat-scaringly loud - that's how I love music, even now. But there's something about loud music in your teens that is so vital - joyful. I love that image of you. Put some music on now, go on, just that bit too loud...

    ReplyDelete
  10. Sweet memories you shared with us , Denise.
    It's funny how music can be such a powerful instrument of bringing back memories.
    Great post!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree, music is certainly a powerful memory trigger for me.

      Delete
  11. what a great story - the shaking walls and a scared cat :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love touching back on the crazy days in my past, and adding to the list every so often ; )

      Delete