another digital broadside

 

a first kiss & other memories

 one of my few public school classmates with whom I still communicate sent me a photo I'd never seen. it was of a 7th grade class at Eastern Heights. I probably have never seen it because it's not my homeroom. but I knew so many in that photo.

this is a section I editd. the boy with glasses is my best friend from that period -- the artist T. R. Queen. & the blonde on the right in front is Denise Gainer. I was struck by their proximity because there is a photobooth shot of Tom & I on a double date with Denise & her younger sister on the cover of Alex in Movieland.

I've written abt Tom over the years because he was a major figure in my early life. but I don't think I've written abt Denise.

as you can see she was a beauty. even in junior high she stood out with her movie star looks. Denise was a neighbor. we only went out together a few times. but I remember once we kissd. I don't recall the details of the date but I have a vivid memory of that kiss. the first time I ever kissd a girl. & strangely I have zero memory of my first boy kiss.

Denise began singing when she was 9 & while in high school she appeard semi-regularly on Gene Carroll's tv show in Cleveland. it was Carroll who introduced her to band leader Blue Barron. after high school Denise hit the road as Barron's singer. she ended up in Chicago where 2 years later she got a leading role in the musical review "Put It in Writing." we all thot she was on her way to stardom. but then we didn't hear anything.

she died in Kentucky in 2009. her obituary noted her 34-year marriage. 2 children & 9 grandchildren. & a life long love of music.

Sonny

 that's what my parents calld me. I suspect it was because they gave me Dad's first name. altho generally he was Al & I was Alex. I have no way of knowing when this began. the earliest documentation I have is this note Mom made in one of my baby books:

yesterday a new restaurant opend in town. because it's calld Sonny's I went this morning for breakfast. the lobster benedict with potatoes & peppers was spot on. I wish I was able to call Mom now & tell her all abt it.

Sheila Smith (1933-2023)

 

here's a little song Sheila wrote for my 50th birthday: