*****Attention*****Before reading this post any further, please go to my play list on the right side of the page and click on the song "Cherry O Baby" by UB40. You might have to scroll up or down the list to find it, but please listen to this song while you read this or it won't be as fun!
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Ok, so I had this random memory a few days ago while walking at Buffalo Park. I was listening to UB40 and Steel Pulse on my ipod, so NOT Flagstaff. I guess I was getting into it because one minute I was looking up at the Peaks and feeling the breeze and the next I was walking on the beach feeling the misty breeze from the surf. Suddenly, I'm in high school in Dana Point cruising around listening to reggae. (Ok, so I was a wannabe surfer chick) I wore Hobie sweatshirts and Jacks Surf and Sport tee's. It was cool to be laid-back and "chill" (so NOT me!) Anyway, back to now. Cherry O Baby comes on and it's a hot day in early August, 1986. I'm in the driver's seat of a Honda Accord parallel parked on Del Prado Street in Dana Point, CA. To my left in the passenger seat sits Mr. Kenneth Baker (not his real last name) In the back seat, a girl and a nerd guy (you know, tall, thin, zits, smart) We are having "behind the wheel" driver's ed. I know Mr. "Baker" because he is also my Algebra teacher. It was rumored that he had a tiny alcohol problem because he got the shakes by 6th period and there was a flask in his top drawer. Excellent choice for a driver's ed teacher! Did I mention he was also about 112 years old? Well, nerd guy drove first and he is VERY nervous. Dana Point is pretty small and near the water there are lots of hills, dips and cliffs. Just the things a car load of inexperienced 16 year olds need. Mr. "Baker" popped a cassette in the player (no, I didn't say 8 track, I'm not THAT old!) It was UB40 Labour of Love. Where did he get it? Not sure. It was playing loudly the whole time. Nerd guy was asked to park the car in a space between two cars at a scenic overlook with just a small fence separating us from the ocean 100 feet down. Red Red Wine is playing and I'm in the back seat saying the "Our Father" because the guy is having trouble getting the car straight, so he's going from drive to reverse, drive to reverse. I'm expecting to go over the cliff at any time. "Shouldn't someone turn the music down so he can concentrate?" is all I'm thinking. Finally, he puts the car in park and Mr. "Baker" says he's done. THANK GOD!!! Now it's the other girl's turn. "Is there any way we can back away from the edge of this cliff???" is all I'm thinking. No, she gets in and must familiarize herself with the vehicle and it's operation right there on the edge. Well, she did very well and drove around until she was instructed to parallel park on Del Prado. Finally, it's my turn. I get into the driver's seat and Cherry O Baby starts. I relaxed and took my turn driving around. I had to drive down by the harbor and then drive up that VERY steep road, with no railing, back up the cliff that comes out by the old Quiet Cannon Restaurant. I just focused on the loud UB40 music and thought about going to the beach afterwards, and I got up that hill! Well, in the end, we all passed driver's ed and I have remained a licenced driver ever since. Whenever I hear UB40 sing Cherry O Baby I remember this story. Thanks for reading. I'll try to post more memories as they come to me.
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Ok, so I had this random memory a few days ago while walking at Buffalo Park. I was listening to UB40 and Steel Pulse on my ipod, so NOT Flagstaff. I guess I was getting into it because one minute I was looking up at the Peaks and feeling the breeze and the next I was walking on the beach feeling the misty breeze from the surf. Suddenly, I'm in high school in Dana Point cruising around listening to reggae. (Ok, so I was a wannabe surfer chick) I wore Hobie sweatshirts and Jacks Surf and Sport tee's. It was cool to be laid-back and "chill" (so NOT me!) Anyway, back to now. Cherry O Baby comes on and it's a hot day in early August, 1986. I'm in the driver's seat of a Honda Accord parallel parked on Del Prado Street in Dana Point, CA. To my left in the passenger seat sits Mr. Kenneth Baker (not his real last name) In the back seat, a girl and a nerd guy (you know, tall, thin, zits, smart) We are having "behind the wheel" driver's ed. I know Mr. "Baker" because he is also my Algebra teacher. It was rumored that he had a tiny alcohol problem because he got the shakes by 6th period and there was a flask in his top drawer. Excellent choice for a driver's ed teacher! Did I mention he was also about 112 years old? Well, nerd guy drove first and he is VERY nervous. Dana Point is pretty small and near the water there are lots of hills, dips and cliffs. Just the things a car load of inexperienced 16 year olds need. Mr. "Baker" popped a cassette in the player (no, I didn't say 8 track, I'm not THAT old!) It was UB40 Labour of Love. Where did he get it? Not sure. It was playing loudly the whole time. Nerd guy was asked to park the car in a space between two cars at a scenic overlook with just a small fence separating us from the ocean 100 feet down. Red Red Wine is playing and I'm in the back seat saying the "Our Father" because the guy is having trouble getting the car straight, so he's going from drive to reverse, drive to reverse. I'm expecting to go over the cliff at any time. "Shouldn't someone turn the music down so he can concentrate?" is all I'm thinking. Finally, he puts the car in park and Mr. "Baker" says he's done. THANK GOD!!! Now it's the other girl's turn. "Is there any way we can back away from the edge of this cliff???" is all I'm thinking. No, she gets in and must familiarize herself with the vehicle and it's operation right there on the edge. Well, she did very well and drove around until she was instructed to parallel park on Del Prado. Finally, it's my turn. I get into the driver's seat and Cherry O Baby starts. I relaxed and took my turn driving around. I had to drive down by the harbor and then drive up that VERY steep road, with no railing, back up the cliff that comes out by the old Quiet Cannon Restaurant. I just focused on the loud UB40 music and thought about going to the beach afterwards, and I got up that hill! Well, in the end, we all passed driver's ed and I have remained a licenced driver ever since. Whenever I hear UB40 sing Cherry O Baby I remember this story. Thanks for reading. I'll try to post more memories as they come to me.
Showing Daddy what she got
