Florida bound....at 15 years old!!!

We drove, changing drivers every couple of hours. Well, Steve would get tired, so we would prop me up on pillows, and I would work the clutch, and Steve would work the stick shaft, and away we would go.. flying down 95 south.. If we had to 'go'.. I would just pull over on the side of the road, and let the engine cut off.. We drove and drove, and finally by early morning we arrived in Orlando Fla. I had been there a few years earlier, with my family, so I figured I knew my way. Well to Disney !!!  I also knew we needed jobs. See I knew we weren't going to get far w/o one, I babysat, and cleaned homes, up North for years, so I had a pocket full of money.( I do believe Lisa thought we were going to find a man and get married.).  I found the local Unemployment Office , and walked in there and grabbed a listing of jobs. I found one , taking care of old people. So , we drove over to the address, and sitting on the porch was this woman we'll call Mariam, she was surrounded by Old folks in wheel chairs, and with walkers. We talked, and I made a bargain with her.She could have us ,Lisa and me for the same Salary $625.oo a month, and we would share room  and job duties. That was a Go!! So we had jobs , but Steve did not. So, I lose my memory here to as what happened, ,but I found out later, he turned around and went up North.. With that , Lisa and me, got unpacked.. I remember how hard it was keeping up on all these people. They were abandoned,  by family members for their inheritance. Just left to starve,  some were found in there homes no food , no furniture ,one guy did not even have  a front door.. it had some worth to it ,and his son took it too.. !! I mean these stories were horrible. Nevertheless, we made them happy, and comfortable. Well, we finally found a schedule that would allow us some party time, and boy did we ever!!! All night ,3 days in a row.. Well, we got caught sneaking in one early morning, I had my foot through the window, and as I turned to get all the way in I saw Maryam, she was pissed.. She said I won't and can't have you girls here doing this with my people, here.. It was just not a good thing. So , She said she would pay us for the month even though we were to move out..immediately. So, that's what we did, now we were homeless. I remembered later , I forgot an 8x10 autographed photo of Led Zeppelin!!! I was so pissed, I sat on there Tambourine box at a concert, in Va. and I seen there address on the side, and wrote them . and they mailed me this great Photo.. Only 5-6 people every saw that, because, I really did not have a lot of friends,when I received it. I did not take it with me to New york, now I am sorry I toke it with me to Fla. I had written them again, and they returned the letter, saying 'they've gone a way'...Well anyway, we hitched to  Disney, and set up camp on top of the Contemporary Hotel.. the one with the monorail going through it.. That's where I stayed with my Family..!!
      On the built up roof... and then we would go down stairs to the Pool Room and shoot Pool for  a 'Buck ball' That's when we met these brothers, and they seemed interested in us, and if we had a place to stay. WE said no..and with that we were packing up again to move into their trailer. So, when we got there we barley unpacked.. we needed to Clean!!! There was trash up to the ceiling... but it had potential... The Cockaroaches, were a foot long..Yuke. so we cleaned this place up  and I closed some holes in the floors  up. and made it home.

Oh what a night!!!!

I remember  this concert me and Fay and Elisa went to.. it was in Commack, at an Arena, about 20 miles away.  We told each of our parents we were sleeping over each others house. Our real plan was to pack up clothes and stuff, in a nap-sac , and put it in my back yard behind the above ground pool, and when we got home we would retrieve it and and go to Mills Path and camp out.. It was a very cold day in November.. but even at 14 years of age I covered everything we would need, and put it in my nap sack.. So, we hitch hiked to this concert and we were drinking and partying  the whole way there. When we got there we found our seats.. and then I went to the ladies room.. and while I was in there I found this cigarette pack with 4 joints , and brought it back to my seat, I told Fay, and Elisa , and we lit up the one joint, and  the lights went out, and the concert began!!! We  sat through this Robin Trower concert with one Eye opened,.. I still see there faces...lol We , were messed up !! It turned out to be Angel Dust, and that concert went on, an on.. I have know idea why we choose this concert.. I was a Yes fan, and Zeppelin Fan.. this was some hard Rock.. just blairing at us.. Well, it was finally time to go.. and at midnight, we walked out .. into a full blown-out snowstorm!!!We had to bundle up.. I had a Snorkel.. that zipped all the way up to my face.. but I still remember them being cold!! They had dressed to go out, they were not equipped for the night we were about to endure.  That snow and wind was horrible.. We kept walking, and then this cop pulled up aside of us, and asked where we were going and what were we doing out this late.. in the Storm.. I told him. Then I told him we were heading for Ronkonkoma.. and he said ladies,  its the other direction.... I was like  Wow.. really? So, then I asked him if he could give us a ride at least back to the Arena, and he said , No.. insurance purposes, and drove off!! So, we turn around and headed for my house, hitchhiking.. well, I do not recall getting many rides.. but by the time we were back in our territory, we decided to just go to Mills, and sit up until morning.. Well, that's all we could do with 4-6inches of snow on the ground.. We sat huddled up, on a piece of plastic I found.. the party was over!!! After a few hours with out fire, and tired from the nights ordeal, we slept ..sorta!! Well, at day break, we stood up.. all stiffened ,and freezing!! and started to walk to my house.. My mom was up and , we just went straight up to my room.. and fell out on my Big warm bed.. Then Elisa's  mom came for her.. and Fay , she only had to go 2 doors down, so when she Thawed out, she left.. and I took a very hot shower, and retrieved the back pack from my snow covered back yard, and then I got comfy, and , with no questions asked.. went about life as usual.. I just keep thinking how we could have frozen to death.. at 3-4 o'clock in the morning, and sitting still.. it was probably not worth dying over..but at 14,  I--, We got away with it.. I guess there was a hidden motive.. Because like I said, we were not Trower fans.. and what I found in that cigarette box messed us up!!!

Gym Teachers....

Well, in 5th grade , changing into these funky gym clothes became very Un-cool.. I was not going to wear  these little gold shorts with a stripe pattern on top, all sewn together... So, every time we had gym I found a way out.. I would sit out on the side  of the basketball courts. Unless of course we did softball, then I found energy to play.. and that I did. I would hit that ball out of the playground and run my fat, but fast but around the diamond !! Winning  alot of games.. It was not until 7th grade. me my best friend were going through the lockers, and taping Kotex up on the lockers.. and smoking in the showers, when the biggest woman I had ever seen, came screaming int the locker room, for us .. I shoved Fay into a locker with a mouth full of smoke..lol, and I blew my smoke up into the window, when I turned around that women had me  a foot off the ground, and her hands were around my neck squishing me against the wall.. asking me what I was up to... I just heard Fay saying she could not get out of the locker, and was stuck, and the gym teacher, let me down to turn to the locker, and try to get her out.. they were pulling on it and it just would not open, well, they called the Janitor, and he had to pry it open!! Well, from that time on, we were being watched. I remember getting off the bus and having half a cigarette, still, and I toke a drag, and I looked up, and a male gym teacher jumped down off the roof !!! Right in front of me, and I dropped my butt, and he startled me,, and said let the smoke out.. like 3 times, so I did, and he dragged me down to the Principals office after making me pick-up my but... I did get suspended 3 days.. that when Fays sister got pregnant.. my famous line.. was your going home to tell your mom your pregnant, at 15 1/2 years old, and I am going home to tell my mom I got caught smoking.. lol.. Well, I thought it was funny,, I did my 3 days of suspension.. and continued cutting classes..but I could pass a test like there was no tomorrow.. making it in to 8th grade..Yes, and Fays sister had her baby... a little boy.. I managed to get out gym for the next few years, because I remember moving to Va. and that was a class I had a choice whether to take it or not!!! I was liking that!!