Hold on to 16

Pop-Pop was watching Alan, and with my cell phone dead in the car, I made a nervous trip to Adams. I badly needed to replenish my home with fresh vegetables and fruits, but felt reluctant leaving, especially knowing how much of a handful Alan has been lately. During the ride, the rain started to pour heavily, and my mind raced with all of the other things I needed to get done…

I turned on the radio, and John Cougar was singing one of my favorite songs, Jack and Diane. I remember this song like it was yesterday -

“Hold on to sixteen
as long as you can
Changes come around real soon
Make us women and men”

Am I really 37 with a 2 year old? I thought back to when I turned 16. My “sweet sixteen” birthday party was held in the garage of my Long Island home, not a fancy banquet hall streamed in pink. It was the 80’s and I had frizzy permed hair. Chris Russo and Eric Farkas spun records for my party, break dancing on a wooden board. Wendy and I were elated that Paulo would be coming. We both had a crush him, a 21 year old Brazilian guitarist who rode a motor cycle and didn’t speak English. We would see him playing his guitar at the pizza place. He sung in Portuguese. His music was in stark contrast to the manufactured synthesized music of the 80’s, making it much more alluring. He played a tune for me at my party which he said he had written for me as a gift; one of the highlights of my youth. I only wish I could remember what it sounded like.

“Oh yeah life goes on
Long after the thrill of livin is gone
Oh yeay say life goes on
Long after the thrill of livin is gone, they walk on”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lWvcmgfcSg