Seventeenth Summer

The last couple of springs I began a new ritual to welcome in summer. I read a book by Maureen Daly called Seventeenth Summer.

It's a book I read back in high school and always thought it was a sweet story. A couple of years ago I got it from the library and read it again and since then, I read it about this time every year. It puts me in a good mood and gets me excited for summer.

Maureen Daly grew up in Fond du Lac and that's where it takes place. It was originally published in 1942, so I'm assuming that's about the time it takes place. It's about a girl, Angie Morrow, who just graduated from high school and falls in love for the first time the summer before she's about to go off to college.

Now granted, I realize it's all quite corny, but there is so much about this book that I love. I love that it takes place in Fond du Lac and they spend time on Lake Winnebago...it gives me a sense of familiarity. When Angie describes her back yard, her garden, her home, I want to visit there...possibly live there. While the day-to-day chores were probably more difficult without all the conveniences we enjoy now, life just seemed simpler. There were rules of behavior and etiquette that everyone knew, and people followed. The days seemed to move at a slow even pace and everything about this book, to me, is very endearing.

Over the years they have tried to gear it toward a new generation of readers by modernizing the cover. But that's actually another thing I love about this book...the illustrations that are true to the time it takes place. As a matter of fact, I always check out the same one at the library. The hardcover with the old pictures.

I would love to share this with my daughter someday. I would love her to love it as much as I have through the years (although, I'm not foolish enough to think that she will.) In the meantime I will continue to read it each spring for my own enjoyment.

Out of the Closet

Well, my daughter and I just got back from the library. While looking for some music by Sting, I came across this little nugget that I had not listened to in ages. I immediately put it on in the car and was surprised that I still knew all the words. My sister was a huge Streisand fan and we had The Way We Were on 8-track.

My sister spent her senior year of high school in Germany as an exchange student. Back then we didn't have cell phones or e-mail. Postal service took forever and phone calls were outrageously expensive, so it was really difficult to stay connected. She left in the summer around the 4th of July and I can remember sitting in my room, listening to her Streisand albums and bawling because I missed her so much.

My favorites were the soundtracks from The Main Event and A Star is Born. I also liked Superman. The best part of Superman may have been the album cover in which she had various poses in her skimpy outfit with her ass cheeks hanging out of the back of her shorts (or whatever they were!) So there you have it. I'm a closet Streisand fan.

That might be why I'm such a big fan of the show Glee and Lea Michele who plays Rachel. She reminds me of Barbara Streisand and even belted out a Streisand song on one episode. She got her start on Broadway and absolutely dominates the show. Not only is she a stand out in Glee, but she is a stand out among her Broadway contemporaries. Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth are both Broadway actresses who have appeared in Wicked and have had guest appearances on Glee. Lea Michele sang circles around the both of them and I think she's got the potential of being a performer of the Streisand caliber.

It will be interesting to see if Lea Michele's career will take her to the big screen as well. With any luck...maybe a remake of The Main Event or A Star is Born. Speaking of which, I'm off to look for my Star is Born cd right now. I want to see if I still remember all the words to that one too.