When you hear that someone you don’t know, but have known for as long as you can remember, has died, can you cry?  Can the news of their death compel your friends and family to think of you first after hearing the unbelievable news?  In my case, absolutely.

 

 

 

 

On David Bowie’s birthday last week, I planned to start a countdown to his 70th birthday in with a series of posts over the course of 2016.  I have lots of David Bowie stuff “under the lids” –  clippings, magazines, and souvenirs and I thought it would be fun to share.

 

 

 

 

But then this ….

Like millions of fans around the world. I never met David Bowie but have had had him in my life for as long as I can remember.  I think my first Bowie memory is from the late 1970’s when I was around 8 or 9 years old,  hearing his music on our kitchen radio.  I’ve surrounded myself with David Bowie ever since.

My first David Bowie purchase was Let’s Dance both on vinyl and cassette.  My first concert regret ever was not being able to see the Serious Moonlight Tour.  I would have to wait until 1987 to see him perform live.  It was at the CNE with Northern Pikes and a version of Duran Duran.  We had terrible seats but it was incredible and worth the journey from London, Ontario to Toronto.  I saw him every time he came to Toronto after that.  Here’s my first of many David Bowie concert ticket stubs.  Note the ticket price and “No Cameras” message.

 

 

 

 

 

I went on to watch every video, attend every concert, and buy almost every magazine that featured him, and courtesy of Etsy, have been able to find Bowie-inspired accessories to add that little of Bowie to my day.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

I spent the evening of January 11 listening to David Bowie on vinyl while I looked through my folder of clippings and stack of Bowie related magazines including a couple wonderful Hello! magazines and Architectural Digest.  My husband flipped the albums for me and listened to me as I went through  my collection of Bowie stuff. (When we got married, there was no question Heroes would be our wedding song.)  David Bowie had been mostly out of the public eye for so long, it was easy to almost forget how very public he once was.  His personality, his charisma and his sense of humour all came through in interviews and performances.

So over the course of the year as we inch closer to “what would have been his 70th birthday” and the first anniversary of his death, I will share more of my favourite Bowie moments.  When I was much younger and living at home, this was how I surrounded myself with David Bowie.

 

 

Back in 1985, one of my friends had some time on her hands and decided to make me something very special.  Using different scraps and magazine cutouts, she created a personalized advent calendar that was all about me.  Each window was numbered and labelled with an A.   Except for 5.  Poor five was forgotten.   Open a window and get a peek at me.  But not in a creepy peeping Tom kind of way… A window into my life 30 years ago.

Each day this month I’ve been opening the day’s window and sharing the video on Instragram.   We’re only half way through September and I’m surprised at how much about me is the same from 30 years ago.

I want to post each of the tiny videos here, but until I can figure out how to do that, I’ll continue sharing via Instagram.  If you’d like to see the videos just click on the Instagram link on the right hand side of this page.   Let me know what you think.  And I’m curious, how different is adult-you compared to highschool-you?

A couple of months ago, I abruptly ended my post about the 40th anniversary of Forever when I found out Judy Blume was coming to Toronto.  I wanted more details and I NEEDED tickets.  The Toronto Public Library was hosting the event to promote Judy’s first adult novel in 15 years, In the Unlikely Event.  Judy – she of purple-cover Are You There God It’s Me Margaret – was going to be the Toronto Reference Library!  I HAD to be at this reading.  I put reminders in my calendars and weeks later when the day came I went online and my tix were confirmed at 9am sharp. I think by 9:10 it was sold out.  But I had two glorious tickets and couldn’t wait!   I would get my copy of Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret SIGNED!!!!

 I checked my book shelf at home and found 3 old Blume books, but not Margaret.  Then it hit me – I lent it out to someone years ago and now it was gone.   Plan B:  I’ll just buy an old copy and bring that to the reading.    Starting with Pandemonium and a couple other used book stores in the Junction I came away empty handed, except for the reminder to check out abebooks.com, a terrific aggregate used book store.

And thanks to the good folks at betweenthecovers.com I had a purple cover back on my shelf, ready for Judy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before the event, TPL emailed all ticket holders:: “Please note: Judy Blume will only be able to sign one copy of In The Unlikely Event per person. Because of audience size and time constraints, Judy will not be able to sign any of her other books.”   Sad face.

But I turned that frown upside on June 29 – the night of the BIG EVENT.  I arrived at the library before 5pm and there was already a line up.  As I waited for my friend, I was surrounded by the chatter of hundreds of 12 year old girls disguised as 20, 30, 40, 50 year olds.    Still waiting for my friend at the front of the line, suddenly there she was and pretty in pink!   How can this woman be 77 years old??  I’ve got your back, Judy!

 

Rachel Giese was the woman we wanted to be as she interviewed Judy Blume and she did a terrific job.    Judy was such an absolute delight to listen to.  Her stories were interesting, her answers insightful.  I loved how she kept reaching out and touching Rachel’s arm like they were old friends catching up.  She was so genuine, warm, funny and real. I don’t know why I’m surprised by this.   I could listen to her recite a recipe and know that there will be wonderful twists and tangents that will go beyond what’s on paper.  And then there was George.  George Cooper, a non-fiction author and Judy’s husband of nearly 30 years.  Their love and partnership was clearly evident as he helped fill in the blanks in her stories, and stood to wave the crowd of his wife’s adoring fans.  George chatted and even signed books as we waited for our moment with his wife.

The staff from Penguin Random House were super organized in ensuring the line moved fast and not a moment was wasted or lost.  Here’s me and Judy!  “HiJudyit’ssoamazingtomeetyou!”  Yes I spoke that fast.

 

 

 

Me::  “If you’re not busy on July 20 you should come for a girl’s cottage visit! You’ll have so much fun!”  Judy:  “I’d love to!   Here let me write down the directions.”  Actually I think her words were “Oh!  I’ll be in Dublin Ireland.”  Me:  “That’s ok.”

 

 

“ThankyousomuchforeverythingJudy!”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#FBF with my vintage Mickey Mouse tshirt.  Most Mickey t’s are from childhood trips to Disney, but I bought mine in my 20’s from a used clothing store.  Why?  Ask most 40+ Greek-Canadians and they’ll tell you:  Greeks don’t do Disney.   Going to Disney was a “Canadian” thing. As kids, they either didn’t go away for summer vacations, or spent them with grandparents in Greece.   I fell in the first group which explains my need to always plan to do stuff during the summer, and why I can barely speak Greek.   Ask those same Greeks if a trip to Disney with their own children is happening – and you’ll get a lot of yesses.   A week long vacation to Disney is more doable than a summer spent in Greece.

My hubs and I always said we would take our kid to Disney.  This weekend we are headed to the land of Mickey Mouse, legendary fireworks, thrilling rides, and lots and lots of food.  I’m still following my weight loss program and am getting closer to my goal weight.   I don’t want to completely derail my progress. But I’m on vacation and while I’m not having the giant turkey legs or bottomless servings of pop all day, I am looking forward to a few of my kid’s fries, a burger-no-bun, an ice-cold beer and the famous Dole Whip.

I’ve spent more time researching this single week of vacation than I did for a three month trip to Europe.   The Toronto Public Library was a great resource for current edition travel guides.  Friends have been generous with their emails, books, tips, suggestions, and warnings.  (This includes you, Dawn @moosegrumpy !)

The top three pieces of advice experienced Disney travellers gave me:                                                                                                                                                   1. Book restaurants as soon as you book your trip (Done.)

2. Download the Disney app to manage ride wait times and set your Fast Pass (Done.  This app is fantastic!!)

3. Wear comfortable shoes because you’ll do A LOT of walking.  (Done.  My footwear is going to be function over fashion which will knock any cuteness out of my outfit choices.  I don’t want to wear a FitBit because I’m already wearing a Disney MagicBand and I can’t throw all my accessories out the window.  A girl needs bangles that don’t beep!)

 

We told our kid about the trip on Easter Sunday as part of his egg hunt.  Some special eggs had letters inside.  Using a hang-man type clue, he had to put the letters in order to spell out the surprise.  He very excitedly guessed WE ARE GOING TO SIDNEY.   Thankfully he was equally excited when he got it right.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’m looking forward spending time with family and friends making memories that will last forever because this trip is only happening once.  The world is too big to visit the same place twice (except NYC, or somewhere I’ve been but my family hasn’t, or anywhere you invite me to).    Who knows, maybe a summer vacation in Greece?

 

 

I learned so much from Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret, it was practically a textbook for my early on-set puberty.   I didn’t have the “talk” with my mom.  I read the book, and when puberty hit I knew what was happening to me.   Judy Blume was there every step of the way of my adolescence.  I put off getting my first bra until grade 5 because I was certain I would get teased like one of the characters in Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing.   So when another Judy Blume novel crossed my path I eagerly read it.  But one word confused me.  “Mom, what’s a virgin?”, and she replied  “What are you reading?”  Hmmm, maybe 11 was too young to read Forever.

Forever is celebrating it’s 40th anniversary.   I don’t remember a lot of the details of the book, but I do remember this cover.

 

 

 

 

It was about Katherine, and her relationship with her boyfriend and they had s-e-x.   And I gave it a solid 4 out 4 stars.   I like how two books later on my list was a compilation of Charlie Brown cartoons.

I wonder if the 50 Shades popularity hit the tweens and young teens with 12 year olds sneaking their mom’s copies?   I haven’t read this series, but I would like to start a re-read list.  Forever and of course Wifey would be top of the list!  Judy Blume has a new adult novel coming out June 2 http://judyblume.com/news.php.    AND OH MY GOD  I just read she is coming to Toronto to read from it!!     Sorry, I’d write more but I must, I must, get tickets to this reading.