I think it's fair to say that most of us remember certain days, be they a friend's birthday, or some other significant event. Not an October 1st has passed that I
didn't recall Cindy Kercher and our memorable trip to the beach. It was a Sunday,
with autumn approaching - when the ocean, even on Long Island, is still relatively
warm and the crowds have long gone home.... often on these jaunts we would
cruise down Rt 110 - still deciding which area to hit - and that day, we chose
The Azores, the easternmost jetty on Long Beach - a risky idea as it lie deep in Nassau County and we held nothing more than Junior Driver's licenses...
As we took a right off the Meadowbrook toward Long Beach and crossed the
small bridge, WABC (our AM station of choice) was playing How Can I Be Sure.
When the song ended, Dan Ingram hollered,
Son of a gun!! It's October One!!
At that point in my life, it was incomprehensible that life could be better - after all, we were SENIORS, on a day off, heading to an excellent beach break, with
surfboards mounted atop my Dad's very ugly 1959 Mercury Commuter station wagon. Aside from driving illegally in Nassau County, here I was, 9 whole days
into a 'going steady' relationship with a sophomore named Lynda - and I'm
off to the beach with Cindy, whom I considered a Babe Extraordinaire, who
always stood by me when the chips were down - and who has remained my
lifelong friend... Lynda never understood my affair with surfing. Cindy did.
It was so good to see you again, Cindy - and I'm happy that
you are well. I regret we had not adequate time to review the past
forty years, but thought I'd let you know here and now just how significant
you were to me then, and the recollections I have are sweet and golden.
October 1st has been like an anniversary ever since that day.
A GORGEOUS MEMORY. And though I wasn't in the vehicle with you, my goodness, I could completely IMAGINE being in it, hearing the music on the radio, hearing our young voices exclaiming as if we would NEVER age... Son of a Gun, it's October 1... that's wonderful!!!!
dittos to kt.....GORGEOUS memory.....i only wish and hope that to someone out there i am a cindy........and thank you vaughn for being man enough to share that anniversery with us..........
