Great America

I suppose there is something in a woman's nature that makes a man free to break down before her and express his feelings on the tender or emotional side without feeling it derogatory to his manhood.
-Bram Stoker
"Dracula"

Twenty-five years ago today:

May 26, 1985
Sunday

Happy 26th Birthday to me!

I received a morning phone call from Rachelle Davies and before I knew it I was showering at 8:30AM and I was in Castro Valley by 9:30AM.

Rachelle and I drove to Hayward where I met Rachelle’s Dad. He was nice enough. He reminded me of an old retired movie actor. He was very nice as he did his best to help take out the tape that was stuck in my car cassette recorder. We didn’t stay too long as we were continuing our journey to the Great America Amusement Park.

The weather was a bit overcast and cloudy but it did not stop us from going. Rachelle paid my entrance fee for my Birthday. We went on several rides and ate some of Maggie Mae’s fried chicken. THE EDGE amusement park ride was one hell of a fall. We had a good time. We watched Glen Campbell perform (to my dismay).

We had an old-fashioned antique looking photo taken together. It was fun. The photo came out good, too. We drank a pitcher of beer at some peanut bar saloon.

The log and boat rides were fun, too. I loved the cotton candy. We went on THE EDGE ride for a second time. What a FALL! It’s like when you’re dreaming you’re falling and really aren’t…but on THE EDGE…you ARE falling! I’d love to take mom on that ride.

On our way out of the Amusement park I bought some hot-chocolate and then accidentally spilled it on Rachelle’s pants and tennis shoes. That was another outburst of laughter. We drove back to my house.

We made sweet love upstairs in my bedroom. I think Rachelle felt funny with the large poster of John Wayne watching us. We began to fall asleep when my mom called at 11PM or so. The phone call was perfect timing as it urged me to hurry and get Rachelle back home at a reasonable time. At 11:59PM (my actual birth time) I was on my drive home to Alameda, thinking of the nice time I had with Rachelle, today.
I told her, “I will call you at noon tomorrow.”

As he dressed, he felt prickles of fear, and clouds of butterflies fluttered in his stomach.
-Nial Kent (aka William Leroy Thomas)
"A Divided Path"