I wanted to be a cheerleader in the 7th grade. I was skinny and dorky and nervous. BUT, my super cool cousin, Cindy, was the captain. She was a 9th grader. So, maybe I had a chance – nepotism and all. She graciously took me under her wing, and attempted to teach me a cheer for tryouts. We could do any cheer we wanted which was pretty neat. Cindy had a whole repertoire from which to select. I was a cheerleader moron – a blank slate.
Cindy selected a cheer and helped me master it, paying special attention to my floppy arms and overall gawkiness. We worked on it in the front yard during the summer before tryouts. I remember it very well.
Tic-Toc, It’s Time to Rock
Let’s Have a Vic-to-ry!
Tic-Toc, The Game is Locked,
And the Jackets, (clap-clap) Have the Key.
SERIOUSLY?
Clearly, she did not want me on the squad. Not the coolest cheer in the ole cheer book. Of course this was the 70s.
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| Marcia |
My sister and I loved to spend the night with Mam-maw Ruby and Papa Homer when Cindy was there. Cindy was our leader. Our inspiration. She wore Cover Girl makeup – lots of it – and removed it with Noxema. We weren’t allowed. She looked like those models on Teen Magazine. She even did some modeling in Memphis. How could we EVER compete with this? For a period of time, she even spelled her name Cindi – with an ‘i’. She was that kind of girl. She could just change her own name, and everyone went right along with it. She knew just how to apply that tanning lotion – QT. I tried to do it one time but my hands turned completely rusted and my legs looked corroded. She was bronze. I couldn’t leave the house for a week. My dad thought she freaking hung the moon. So did we.
Tryouts made me very nervous. I was sure I wouldn’t make the squad – I wore gold wire rim glasses! How can you cheer in glasses? I was Jan Brady. Cindy, of course, was Marcia. Most definitely. She had straight, long, shiny, brown hair that swung across her back as she walked around the Keiser playground. Just like Marcia. AND, her boyfriend was James Parks – ohsweetjesus. If he even looked in my direction I stuttered. He too was in the 9th grade. AND, he was the big brother of my best friend. So, I got to look at him a lot. Marcia had Davy Jones; Cindy had James Parks, and I had glasses. Like Jan.
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| Jan |
Cindy worked and worked with me on the splits – it was part of the tryout test. There was no way I could do the splits. Not even close. How could I possibly be a cheerleader and not do the splits? My legs didn’t work that way. She gave me homework – stretching exercises which I did religiously, on my own time. Staci, my little sister who also was uncool – tried to help. She stood over me and pushed my shoulders down, trying to force me into the splits. Surprisingly, to my knowledge, I didn’t rupture anything. I rubbed vaseline into my knees, trying to limber them up (my own idea). No luck. Cindy was as nimble as Raggedy Ann. She could actually sit on the floor Indian style and put her feet around her head! She invented the flowering lotus pose before yoga was invented. We were first cousins! Why couldn’t I do that?
When the time came for tryouts, I took my glasses off and handed them to Cindy. a) I didn’t want to be a four-eyes; and b) I didn’t want to be able to see anyone in the stands, especially Mrs. Ashley who selected the team. The team needed a blind cheerleader – I was sure of it. I couldn’t see a thing without my glasses. I squinted the entire time. Attractive.
Amazingly, I did make the squad. Maybe everyone made it? I don’t remember, and I didn’t know because I couldn’t see. I was too cool now for glasses. Thanks to Cindy, I’m certain.
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| James Parks |
Later, in 1977, the year I turned Sweet 16, I actually had my first date – with James Parks. Still the most handsome boy in Keiser, somehow Becky and I finagled a double date with James and his best friend, Lance. They took us to the Osceola drive-in theatre, across from the graveyard. The movie was Walking Tall, but I couldn’t concentrate on it. I was too aware of James sitting so close to me in that dark back seat of Lance’s dusty car. I had no idea how I had gotten so lucky to be on my first date with James Parks! I was pretty sure being a cheerleader helped. James played football. Later, we learned Becky’s dad tradedhis best hunting dog to Lance to entice him into this date. Nice. I still have no idea what my daddy promised to James, but I would have given my eye teeth and sold my soul to truly get his attention. Of course, I was just his little sister’s annoying friend and he never gave me a second thought. I don’t even think he knew I was there. I’m sure he was still thinking about Cindy.
I actually saw James Parks a few weeks ago on his way to a funeral, and he asked me about Cindy. I KNEW he was still thinking about her.
jan
Musical Pairings:
Ella Fitzgerald, “Blue Moon”
Johnny Rodriguez, “Ridin’ My Thumb to Mexico”
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| Keiser Jr. High Cheerleaders Yellow Jackets! I’m on the far left standing on one leg like a flamingo? |
This made me laugh 🙂 my mom’s “coolness” definitely didn’t get passd on to me! It is fun to hear stories ike that, thanks for sharing!Courtney
Of course it did!
Cute as can be. Really enjoy all your writings..
Thanks for the old down home stories. Lou
thanks! T.
Ha ha ha! This is so funny! We need a reunion soon! Does this make me Cindy Brady?!
Yes. That was implied.
Now wait…I was sure I was Marcia! And you were Jan and Anita was Cindy! I think that’s the way it went!!!!
FYI…I still think James is the cutest and sweetest boy ever from Keiser (but of course, he is my big brother!) And the dogs name that my dad traded me to Lance for…..SUE!!! I kid you not!
No we were Charlie’s Angels.
Loved this one too!!! Thanks so much for sharing Talya!!!
Thanks!
Another great one, Talya! Your hilarious stories, and especially this one, really ‘cheer’ me up, so keep ’em coming!
Sitting in the dark trying to comment to this! (Our power is out! Sooo thankful for the cool weather tho!) Oh my, where to start! Talya, you are so funny! And, of course I wanted YOU on the squad! You and Staci were always my favorite cousins and you were a grrreat cheerleader and Staci the star basketball player (as I recall!) I was in awe of you both! If we ever talked about the Brady girls, sadly, I have forgotten! I am, afterall, as you said, two years older. That’s so funny, Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!!!!!! I remember James and I were Halloween King and Queen in 9th grade, if I find that picture I will send it to you for your collection! HaHa. I was also Queen with Yancy Ryder (remember him? I think I recall Renee going with him at some point – he was the ‘new kid’ in town) in 7th grade! Seems like you and Craig B were K&Q in 7th grade (and again in 9th?) I was chosen again for 9th grade cause nobody else wanted to do it! (much the same with cheerleading Captain!). And James, oh dear, sweet James – my first “true” love! We talked about marriage way back in 9th grade! (June 25, 1978)LoL. Our grandmothers were close friends and we often visited them together! But I’m sure when he dated you, Talya, he forgot all about me! Oh my…memory lane is bittersweet. I remember when daddy died, James called me. Out of the blue – hadn’t talked to him in 25+ years and he thought enough of me to call. I will never forget that as long as I live! (at least I hope I don’t!). Aww… I thought the sun rose and set with your sweet daddy too! He was a most special uncle! And I’ll never forget all the great times at the Lake, riding the ferry, jumping off cliffs, sunbathing, and of course, “Blue Moon of Kentucky!”. I still love Johnny R too! (Buddy sings about him on the song, “This ain’t Mexico”.) Those were DEF the good old days! And our awesome times at Mammaw Ruby’s with you and Staci Trel! And “our best laid PLANS”. Can’t forget those mischievous plans! (did we really put mayonnaise on Granddaddy Homers face in the middle of the night!?). Surely not. Rotflol…. But back to cheerleading for a minute… I cheered for three years – the first year, Debbie Little was captain. She was always so nice and a good captain. The next year it was Timmie Lynn – a natural blonde haired beauty, very athletic, and a good leader. I really DID love cheering but could never do a cartwheel. I could do the Chinese splits and a handspring but never a cartwheel to save my life! Of course I can do neither now and I’m sure most are surprised I ever could, but I bet yours are still as great as ever! Thanks so much for taking me wayyy down memory lane….maybe I’ll dream of James tonight! Lol. Btw…how come you didn’t tell me he asked about me a few wks ago??? LoL
Love you, Talya, Staci, Aunt Barbara, Uncle Tom, and (of course) “The beloved Stalya!” The coolest boat on Lake Norfork – 4ever!
I love that you wrote a full blown response to the blog post like the GOP response to the state of the union – lol! 1) We never discussed The Brady Bunch – it’s just what I thought. 2) I will most definitely blog about the Keiser Halloween Carnival, but I will probably wait until October -haha; 3) I tried to do a cartwheel not too long ago in bootcamp and pulled every muscle and piece of fat in my body. 3) Oh and btw, James asked about you the other day!
T.
LOL…Sorry I rambled on so long – but my phone was about the only thing that kept me sane for 3 hours while our power was out!