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A Summer to Remember
by Kaila chan

There's just something about old summer songs that makes me smile. Is there anyone who can't remember with fondness "See You In September", "Summertime Blues", "A Summer Song" and my favorite, "I Want to Thank You for Giving Me the Most Wonderful Summer".

When I think about my favorite summer song, I remember a time of innocence in 1964. In those days, a young girl of 13 was easily smitten by the confident stroll, easy smile and laughing eyes of a young teenage boy. Even though that summer was 37 years ago, I can still recall how I felt when I met Eddie, my first summer crush.

I was visiting my cousin, Barbara, in Los Angeles, and we had gone to the junior high school across the street from her house to see if any of her friends were there. As we walked lazily through the quiet deserted school corridors to the auditorium, we ran into a group of kids. Eddie was the cousin of one of Barbara's friends, and, like me, he was also visiting for the summer.

It was hard not to notice Eddie with his gorgeous brown eyes and long, dark lashes. I could tell he was tall, even though he was slightly slouched leaning against the wall. And the fact that Eddie was almost 15 (an older man!) just piqued my interest in him. Perhaps it was the knowledge that we would both go our own separate ways when summer ended that led to my first summer flirtation. Or, it could simply be that it was time for me to experience what it was like to have a boyfriend.

Whatever the case, Eddie and I spent a lot of time together that summer. He would walk to my cousin's house to visit me, and we would sit out on the front porch steps for hours and hours, just talking.

I have warm, wonderful memories of the silly stories Eddie told me about his family and friends back home in New Mexico, which kept me grinning and giggling like the love-struck adolescent that I was. After about two weeks, Eddie asked if he could hold my hand. I couldn't believe my luck. He really wanted to hold my hand, and he was actually asking for permission!

Although I was very nervous, I didn't want to lose this grand opportunity of holding hands with such a special boy, so I quickly nodded my head. We remained "a couple" for the duration of that summer visit. When it was time for us to go back to our own families and homes, I remember crying. I remember Eddie crying, too, which touched me because I always thought boys didn't cry. But then again, I did mention he was special.

I never saw Eddie again. When I visited my cousin the following summer, she told me that Eddie had visited earlier that month and stayed for only two weeks. She told me he asked about me, which made me both happy and sad. Happy that Eddie remembered the young girl he met last summer, and sad that we missed seeing each other by a matter of a week. But perhaps that's the way it was meant to be...with both of us holding on to sweet memories of the summer of '64.

It would be my wish for all of you out there to experience the joy of puppy-love that I found in 1964. And if you are one of the lucky ones, please take the time to share your summer love story with us at Quill and Parchment. We want to hear from you!

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