Last week I picked up the June 7-13 issue of American Profile, which arrives tucked inside our daily newspaper once a week, and there, in the "Ask AP" section, was a photo of my Gardner. I swooned for old time's sake. Unfortunately his photo isn't included in the on-line version of "Ask AP," but no matter. I can still picture him on his sailing sloop, dressed in shorts and a shirt with rolled-up sleeves, and my heart skips a beat. (If you check this site, though, you'll see why I was so in love.)
According to the Ask AP snippet, McKay left Holywood after his t.v. series ended and traveled the world. He died in 2001 at age 69.
My real-life first "love" was Jimmy Pickett. We fell in love in third grade. I don't recall that we had an actual conversation about our developing love for one another, but I told someone who told someone, and apparently he told someone who told someone. The rumor mill worked overtime, and before long word got back to me that Jimmy as going to ask me to go steady.
The time for Jimmy to give me his ring was set, and I was at the appointed place at the appointed time: the front porch of the Mark Emery School immediately after school one day.
A crowd gathered around us. Jimmy and I stood there looking at one another. Suddenly Jimmy threw the ring at me. It landed at my feet. I bent down and picked it up, making it official: We were now going steady.
I don't think we ever talked with one another as we "dated," and I certainly know we never went out on a date.
I still have the ring. It has a big, gaudy green stone, and it came from a bubble-gum machine.
Jimmy died in a car accident four summers after we graduated from high school. He was a good person whose life ended way too soon.
how interesting, beginning of your life's memoirs-sure your daughter would love to read or talk with you about all this. I fell in love in kindergarden and we decided to marry when we grew up but fortunately I moved away with my widowed mom and that never happened. Love is a process of learning through the years-what it takes to make and keep a relationship. It certainly isn't easy or do we live happily ever after...
ReplyDeleteAh, the first crush...nothing like it! My goodness, my Aunt has a sordid past?? And could it be anymore romantic than the young lad tossing the long-awaited ring at your feet? Sorry to hear of his too-early death though. My first "crush" pushed me down on the playground at the infamous Mark Emery school during recess! I can still remember that day and that was what, 43 years ago?? It is amazing though what we tuck away in our thoughts...
ReplyDeleteThat is such a sweet story of a first love, but with such a sad ending.
ReplyDeleteI have this vague recollection of Gardner McKay. But it's too vague. I was madly in love with Johnny Crawford. I wonder if anyone remembers him.
Aren't kids funny? I used to hear my students talking about how Johnny was "going with" Mary. I would ask, "Where are they going?" I'd get the eye roll and the "gosh, how dumb can a teacher be" look.
ReplyDeleteSometimes they were "going with" people they hardly spoke to. I probably did too, but my memories of that time are.....faded.
I had a major "crush" on Johnny Crawford as well, Kay! The Rifleman?
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