The second-to-last solar eclipse over the continental U.S. was on Monday, February 26, 1979. Claudette worked in the x-ray department at Lutheran Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa. She and her co-workers took some x-ray film and went outside to look at the sun through the film. They were not in the path of totality (had… Continue reading Total Eclipse of the Date
Category: firsts
Bricks, Ricks, and Cardboard
The college mixer was hosted by the men in Lorch House in Friley Hall, in the heart of the Iowa State campus. My house, Tappan, the top two floors of Barton Hall, a girls’ dorm, was invited. Yes, I am old. Yes, dorm floors are co-ed now. This was in the days of the dinosaurs.… Continue reading Bricks, Ricks, and Cardboard
Julie Takes a Ride
Julie and her friend, Denise, went to the Rusty Pelican on Friday night. It was their go-to hang-out. But lately it had been heavy on girls’ night-out groups and light on eligible men. Would it be the same old, same old kind of night, or would Julie finally meet a datable man? She’d fluffed and… Continue reading Julie Takes a Ride
Why Not to Discuss Politics and Religion
Steve was a grad student at UCLA while he worked for Chrysler. His roommates fixed him up on a date with a Persian beauty named Mahvash. It was love at first sight. Mahvash had long dark hair and wore a gorgeous gown that really turned him on. They went to dinner and afterward, Steve invited… Continue reading Why Not to Discuss Politics and Religion
Best Boy Band Ever
Carol grew up in in Pueblo, Colorado. They called it the little Pittsburgh of the West. Her dad was a steelworker. Her mom was a lab tech phlebotomist at the hospital. Whenever one of the kids got sick, her mom would bring home a hypodermic needle in her purse to draw some blood. “To see… Continue reading Best Boy Band Ever
100th Best, Worst, Last, First
My one hundredth blog post is today. The blog is called First Date, Worst Date Ever, but it has morphed into something else. I now tell many types of stories, including how people started their 50 year marriages, along with the bad first-date stories of so many others who weren’t so lucky. Sometimes the worst… Continue reading 100th Best, Worst, Last, First
Breaking Bad in Blackhawk
My right ear was plugged up, and I had a two hour singing rehearsal in front of me. I grabbed my chorus bag, my iced tea, some recycle bags and my jacket and headed out the door. I’ll stop at CVS on the way and pick up some Sudafed, so I can hear tonight. When… Continue reading Breaking Bad in Blackhawk
#Me Too
The summons said to report at 9:00 a.m. at the courthouse in Martinez on a Friday. I fretted about parking but found a spot in the free lot. The juror waiting room was filled with prospective jurors. We were given a questionnaire, a speech about serving, and then we were sent home for the weekend.… Continue reading #Me Too
Worst Weight Loss Ever
I started to have trouble eating. Being 5 feet, 10 inches, I’d always enjoyed consuming anything I wanted with few consequences. I was a healthy woman with a healthy appetite. It was my daughter’s 11th birthday party. I’d made lots of fatty heat-up treats for the sleepover, like Costco taquitos, processed greasy treats. Of course,… Continue reading Worst Weight Loss Ever
Romance, Coast to Coast
Nicky went back to Connecticut to see his mother. “You’ve got to meet this cute Italian girl working in my office,” a friend said. “I’m only here for a week,” Nicky said. Another friend said, “My wife is in night class with a cute Italian girl. You two should meet, since you’re both Italian.” “I’m… Continue reading Romance, Coast to Coast
