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Monday, October 10, 2011

हे जुड़े!

Judy Weisgarver and I dated for a couple of wonderful months in 1968. We were in the Madrigal Singers together, and Jim Wagner would give us both a ride home every night. She lived on Station Street while I lived on Grove Avenue.

I can't even remember how it happened, but somehow or another, I got up the courage to ask her to go out with me. We went to The Graduate together, and I wore a sports jacket and tie, trying to look like 18 and not get carded, ROFLMAO!

We also went to Chicago, I think to see Camelot. I remember some guy saing to another guy, "suck my crank," which Judy just LOVED.

We were both cigarette smokers, which gave us something in common to share. She was a senior, and I was a junior. We probably got together because of the musical from the previous fall, Guys and Dolls.

She spent a lot of time over here, and I spent a lot of time at her place. We made out a bunch, and she was a great kisser. She also loved my family, especially my youngest sister, Marianne, who would have been 8-9 years old during the months Judy and I dated.

One night, while we were making out downstairs on the couch, mom called down to say that Judy had to leave. There was a golf tournament for me to get up early for in the morning. I was embarrassed, but she left with no animosity. She really liked kissing me, this I know, because we were doing it forever. I even got bold and she did not resist some of my more experimental advances. It was a lovely time, and I was a very lucky guy.

At one of the golf tournaments, Steve Wagner, also a senior, let it slip that Judy was having a party at her parents' house (they were out of town). I hadn't been invited. I played 9 extra holes of golf. I couldn't fall asleep that night. I caddied on Sunday, deciding to refuse mom's offer for a ride out to Barrington Hills country club, I walked the 3 miles to the course. Ended up caddying 36 holes, doubles. Then I walked over to Judy's best friend Sarah Canby's house. I put poor Sarah on the spot: Why doesn't Judy like me?

It's not that she doesn't like you, she just wants to be with friends from her own class now that it's getting so close to graduation. We smoked some cigarettes (SOME paretns were very tolerant on this issue, back in the day) and listened to Allan Ginsberg's dramatic reading of HOWL.

I went home, exhausted. Remember, it was 3 miles back home also. Judy went to prom with some guy, Rod something-or-another.

My favorite thing we ever did together, was to go fly a kite in early April or late March of '68. It was so cold, and she took my arm and cuddled up close to stay warmer, while we chain-smoked our cigarettes and I valiantly (and eventually) got the damn kite to fly. It is absolutely amazing what being motivated to please a young lady (or any lady) can do for your creativity!

I sat down to the piano that night, and wrote one of my first songs: Where's the Magic? Pure blues:


Where's the magic
Where did it go
I thought I saw it takin; a walk
Outside out the back door

When you hold me in your arms
It is just so plain
That you don't love me any more.

Where's the magic
Where did it go?
Only our shadows are makin' love,
And love left by the back door.

When you hold me in your arms
It's so very plain to feel
That you don't love me any more.


Quite frankly, it was as good as anything I've ever written and put to music. Guess I done been singin' me duh Blooze for mostly all my adult-brained conscience life.

Judy wrote us this letter from Summer Camp, where she was a counselor. It was very thoughtful, and just way cool of her to write.

Thanks, Judy Weisgarver, where ever you may be!



Dear Mark,

I thought that since I had a couple extra minutes I'd write you a little note! I've been meaning to thank you for the birthday card but I really haven't had any time at all. This job that I've got is something else – it's an 18-hr-a-day job- and I'm always totally pooped. I'm in the middle of the second session now – the first session turned out really well but this group isn't quite as enthusiastic as the last. Maybe my hopes were a little too high … but this has turned out to be the most rewarding job I think I'll ever have. When the kids do something right (finally!) then the counselors all feel so good about it! And the scenery up here is another thing – we have a beautiful lake right outside our tent and trees all around. I think this camping life is really getting to me! You wouldn't believe how much I've been smoking. I've had at least a carton since I got here ('cause Sarah and I each bought one carton & they're all gone!) Gene and Carelin aren't going to be too happy about that when I get home but that's the way it goes! A lot of things have changed about me and ever since I left home & have been away from my parents! Hat to see what's gonna happen when I go to school!!

So how's golf been going? I'm sure you've been out a lot and are getting black as a –! I want to hear all about it, OK? Well, I said this was just going to be a “little note” so I guess I'll close now. Say hello to John & MaryAnn & Gay & your mom & dad and anyone else I missed! Write me if you ever get a chance 'cause I really enjoy getting mail while up here in the wilderness!

As Always,
Jude

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