Monday, February 7, 2011

Memories: Old Friends

Pamela Tracy here, and, yes, you'll be once again hearing about things I found when I REALLY cleaned my office over Christmas. Let me jog your memory. The last time I chatted about this I chastised myself because I'd kept check stubs from 1979 (first job).

Some things I discovered, however, were not so mundane. I found my autograph book from the seventies. I'm having a blast going through it. I've listed some teachers (I remember two). I do remember many of the kids. And, I'm amazed at how personalities come through.

For example, Bob Worden wrote on fifteen pages of my autograph album. He wrote the same two words in sprawling, giant letters: PAM WHO?

Joleen Staats wrote: I auto this; I auto that; but in this book I autograph.

My good friend Robin wrote: You are my best friend, besides Lisa.

Marian Ballenger wrote: When you are old and out of shape, remember that girdles are only $2.98.

Lynne Eppenbaugh wrote: When you get married and have some twins, don't come to me for safety pins.

Every page of my autograph book is filled. As I first cruised through it, my finger touching the faded words and names from my past suddenly shimmering into shapes before me, I realized I miss my friends of old. Yet, what a treat, their words are right here in my autograph book.

Courtesy of Linda Farris: Big ships, little ships, they never made a ship like friendship.

Did you have an autograph book? What does it say?

8 comments:

Terri Reed said...

Pam, I've never heard of an autograph book. How old were you?

Courtney said...

I've never heard of this either...but it sounds like a good way to store memories:)

Debby Giusti said...

Pam,
I've got an autograph book, although doubt I could find it at the moment.

Weren't they fun?

They need to make a comeback!

Pamela Tracy said...

I was in elementary school in the 70's. They were little books you took around and asked your friends to sign.

Ramona Richards said...

Oh, I suddenly feel really old. I had no idea girls no longer did this. I have one (somewhere...), and I had two more that have disappeared through the ages. My most bizarre was when a girl I thought was a friend grabbed my book and scratched I HATE YOU!!! across one page. I had no idea what I'd done to her. Still don't. It wasn't the last time someone got upset with me and I had no clue either. (I use those experiences to write about men's reactions when they're clueless...)

Anonymous said...

Wonderful a wonderful,interesting post."Old Friends" are hard to come by sometimes.
tarenn98[at]yahoo[dot]com
NC

Pamela Tracy said...

Ramona,
Maybe your mean friend knew Bob Warden who put Pam Who? on 15 of my pages!

Pamela Tracy said...

April,
You are so right.