I remember Aunt Cicora who lived in Hollywood. Every year for Christmas she sent my brother and me a joint present of one book.
I remember the day Frank O'Hara died. I tried to do a painting somehow especially for him. (Especially good) And it turned out awful.
I remember canasta.
I remember “How Much Is That Doggie In The Window?"
I remember butter and sugar sandwiches.
I remember Pat Boone and "Love Letters In The Sand.”
I remember Teresa Brewer and "I Don't Want No Ricochet Romance."
I remember "The Tennessee Waltz."
I remember "Sixteen Tons.”
I remember "The Thing.”
I remember "The Hit Parade."
I remember Dorothy Collins.
I remember Dorothy Collin's teeth.
I remember when I worked in an antique-junk shop and I sold everything cheaper than I was supposed to.
I remember when l lived in Boston reading all of Dostoevsky’s novels one right after the other.
I remember (Boston) pan handling on the street where all the art galleries were.
I remember collecting cigarette butts from the urns in front of The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.
l remember planning to tear page 48 out of every book I read from the Boston Public Library, but soon losing interest.
I remember Bickford's.
I remember the day Marilyn Monroe died.
I remember the first time I met Frank O'Hara. He was walking down Second Avenue. It was a cool early Spring evening but he was wearing only a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. And blue jeans. And moccasin. I remember that he seemed very sissy to me. Very theatrical. Decadent. I remember that I liked him instantly.
I remember driving through the Ozarks and all the gift shops wve didn't stop at.
I remember home room mothers.
I remember being a safety guard and wearing a white strap.
I remember ''Hazel" in The Saturday Evening Post.
I remember ringworms. And name tags.
I remember always losing one glove.
I remember loafers with pennies in them.
I remember Dr. Pepper. And Royal Crown Cola.
I remember those brown fur pieces with little feet and little heads and little tails.
I remember "Suave" hair cream. (Pale peach)
I remember house shoes, plaid flannel hath robes, and “Casper'' the Friendly Ghost.
I remember pop beads.
I remember "come as you are" parties. Everybody cheated.
I remember game rooms in basements.
I remember milkmen. Postmen. Guest towels. “Welcome mats. And Avon ladies.
I remember driftwood lamps.
I remember reading once about a lady who choked to death caring a piece of steak.
I remember when fiberglass was going to solve everything.
I remember rubbing my hand under a restaurant table top and feeling all the gum.
I remember the chair I used to put my boogers behind.
I remember Pug and George and their only daughter Norma Jean who was very beautiful and died of cancer.
I remember Jim and Lucy. Jim sold insurance and Lucy taught school. Everytime we saw them they gave us a handful of plastic billfold calendars advertising insurance.
l remember Saturday night baths and Sunday morning comics.
I remember bacon and lettuce and tomato sandwiches and iced tea in the summer time.
I remember potato salad.
I remember salt on watermelon.
I remember the first time I saw Elvis Presley. It was on the "Ed Sullivan Show."
I remember "Blue Suede Shoes." And I remember having a pair.
I remember felt skirts with cut-out felt poodles on them. Sometimes their collars were jeweled.
I remember bright orange canned peaches.
I remember jeweled bottle openers.
I remember the horse lady at the fair. She didn't look like a horse at all.
I remember pillow fights.