by:  Linda Law

    When I was a young girl I had several cute boys wanting me to wear their football jacket or ring, and I was in 7th Heaven feeling so popular.  In fact these two boys at once were vying for me to be their steady so I said, "whoever gets Elvis' autograph for me" will be my steady.  Elvis was due to sing at the Municipal Auditorium, and of course I was too young to go, and we didn't have TV media to report things back then.  The night of the Elvis event, I was sitting at home reading a movie magazine, cutting out photos of Elizabeth Taylor and Rock Hudson, when there was a newscast on the radio about two boys who were arrested at the Municipal Auditorium..  It didn't mean anything to me at the time.....but boy was I in for a surprise!

    James and Bobby had climbed up the side of the bldg, entered the back dressing room areas, and were caught trying to get Elvis's autograph....when they told of the "dare"...Elvis did give them both an autograph, and although the boys were held, they were not actually arrested. They got to stay for the concert, and then over the weekend they were like famous celebrities locally, all for their story!!!  Small town USA...  Anyway... I solved the "dare" by dividing the "going steady" with both boys!  In the mornings I wore Jame's letter jacket and ring; and in the afternoons I wore Bobby's!  Cool idea don't you think? I would have made a great Judge, since I could never cut the baby in half....

   Anyway... On Valentines Day I went to my locker and realized it wasn't locked....so I looked around for my key and noticed it wasn't on my keychain.  I thought "Oh no...I have to get a new lock & key".  As I opened the locker there was such a wonderful surprise!  A white teddy bear with a red ribbon around it's neck...and a box of candy propped up with it... On the opposite side was a Red Teddy Bear with a Tutu (ballerina outfit) and a wrapped little package tied to her wrist...  On the door of the locker were Valentine Cards... All my girlfriends were oohing and aahing, and I felt like the Belle of the Ball...so excited...  One gift was from Bobby and the other was from James...but...it wasn't like I thought.  The big Teddy bear was from both boys...they pooled their money since they figured they were both "sharing" me as a steady.  They gave me a big card each, and the box of candy was from both of them too.  The biggest surprise was that the Red Teddy Bear in the Tutu was from a "surprise admirer!" 

   I made a big deal out of opening the card and the little package wrapped around the wrist of the Red Ballerina.  The little gift was a gold necklace with a heart locket with a picture of the Captain of the Football team in it!  Woweee!  He was a Senior and I was only a Sophomore....so... I had found out who the Secret Valentine was, and I couldn't wait to see him at lunch in the Cafeteria. 

  Isn't it amazing how easily young people can fall in and out of puppy love?  I realize now, after all these years that I loved being in love, and  all the attention!  What happened to all the boyfriends?  Well, I wasn't allowed to date...so...after awhile, telephone calls that were limited to ten minutes, and visiting me at home in front of both parents and five sisters got to be quite boring!  Eventually, the beaus just gave up and moved on to another girl who could date and didn't have to have the whole family chaperone home dates!  

     I get to smile alot now at all these memories of being a teen, because I remember how I hated my sisters who were always into my things..... I hated my parents for being so mean...No one should be limited to ten minute phone calls! and I hated having to sneak behind the bleachers to sneak a kiss with a boy, never knowing when dad would be checking on me!  

    Don't I wish that my problems were so big and so heavy as in those days?  Valentines Day now is just another day.... although it has been a very significant day throughout my life... I'll be writing about some of those Valentine surprises later.

   Oh yes, about that Elvis autograph....both of them... well, James insisted that I return his when I dumped him for the Football Captain, but Bobby kept his crush on me for another year.....and then he said I could keep all his gifts because he gave them to me "with all his heart"!   I wonder what ever happened to those cute guys?  Oh...the Football Captain became a doctor and a good friend in my adult life; however...he passed away two years ago...He was extremely OBESE....suppose he didn't follow the advice he was giving to his patients... sad.