I remember hearing "Good Vibrations" for the first time. I remember pretending to hang myself in Abigail William's back yard. I remember when we switched dinner times because the Brady Bunch switched times. I remember putting a Smokey the Bear decal on my dresser. I remember jumping all over Wendy Rosen's records because they were "Unbreakable". I remember smoking pot for the first time with Samantha and Bobby and Dave. Bobby chickened out saying "I tried it at the Rush concert." Dave didn't inhale. I wouldn't shut up. And, supposedly, Samantha let Bobby get to third base with her behind the pool. I remember writing letters to Ranger Rick magazine. I remember thinking "In The Air Tonight" was the coolest song. I remember throwing up Spaghetti-Os in the downstairs bathroom because I drank too much Creme D'menth. I remember doing whip-its in the back of Matt's car cruising over the George Washington Bridge. I remember the day Matt died. I remember lying in bed, flashlight and stop watch in hand, trying to pin down the speed of light. I remember Marni Brubaker eating raw Steak-Ums. I remember Danny Cohen telling me how to give a good hand-job. I remember sitting on the living room floor, watching the Live Aid tapes at Bobby's on a half-day of school, when his mom told us the Challenger blew up. I remember when bologna on a toasted English muffin was my favorite sandwich. I remember the sadness of cold Sundays, late in the day, November. I remember trying to make licorice with spaghetti and red dye. I remember Jenny Higgins teasing me so hard I cried so hard I threw up on the floor in the nurses office saying "I... I... I... just want to go home. I remember Heather Libby's mom telling us to find some shade when we complained about the heat. We spent the whole day trying to figure out what shade was. I jumped around saying, Is this shade? She licked her arms and blew on the wet part saying, is this? I remember the blue and white sneaker-skates I ordered from the back of the Kraft Mac & Cheese box. I remember calling David Goldenberg a faggot because he had Hello Kitty pencils. I remember falling in love with Frank O'Hara. I remember the only thing Allen Ginsberg said to me when I had to drive him somewhere was "You should clean your car." I remember the day he died. I remember when Fonzie joined the Civil Rights movement and made a sign that says EQUALITY IS COOL. I remember liking Doug Perry so much I couldn't look at him. I remember going down to Queens with my mom to get a lye treatment. I remember Grandpa Les taking me to Caldor for a new softball mitt. I remember the names of all my baby sitters. I remember the smell of dittos. I remember wanting to be a stewardess after seeing the pilot of Flying High. I remember saying, I'll never quit smoking. I love it too much.
		Copyright © 1997 Alison Dorfman.