Say good bye to the dolls...

I'm turning 11 years old living with my Mother in Eugene, Oregon.

My weekend dad shows up to do something for a celebration. He takes me and my sister to McDonalds where I get to proudly order my first Big Mac with fries and a coke-a-cola. And now, as a grown up, I proceed to devour the entire meal. (Of course no one knows that I didn't eat for 2 days just so I could ensure I would, in fact, eat an entire Big Mac THIS TIME.)

We then head to Baskin Robbins where, again, I get to order anything I want. Of course it's the double chocolate fudge ice-cream on a sugar cone please... two scoops!

I'm telling you, life was just about grand.

"What do you want me to buy you for your birthday present?" my Dad asks me. "Provided that it is not that expensive, I will buy you whatever you want."

I knew this was a bit of "week-end Dad guilt" kicking in and knew I had to seize the moment.

Now, typical normal girls would have said toys, a doll, some sort of jewelry or something girlee, like an EZ Bake Oven.

But you must understand, however, I am not typical nor am I normal.  But, I am a girl.

"I want you to buy me the new Tom Petty record."

"What?" "Excuse me?" my father said in utter disbelief.

"It’s on sale at Tiffany's for $10.99 and I would like you to buy it for me."

"You want a record? You don't even own a record player."

"Yes, I want a record. I'll use Mom's.

"But it's a record. Why not a bike, or some dolls? he pleaded.

"You said I could have whatever I want, and since it's not even eleven dollars, I want this record."

I knew it was a bold move. Almost as bold as asking your parents to buy cigarettes for you when you're under age... at least that's what it felt like.

There was a very long silence...much too long for my liking.

"What could he possibly be thinking" I wondered? "This is not a complicated request. Why is he taking so long to answer?" 

"You're right" he whispered. "I said I would buy you whatever you wanted provided that it's not that expensive" he uttered defeatedly.

He drove my sister and me to the store where, at once, I found the record (The day before I had called to make sure they had it in stock and to double check the price) which I placed in his hands as we arrived at the cashier.

"Are you sure this is what you want for your birthday?" he pleaded one last time, as if this gift was the last present I was ever going to get in my entire life.

With no hesitation or uncertainty I answered with a resounding and emphatic "YES!"

Listening to that music, hearing the dueling guitar licks with the piano and keys mixed effortlessly into the music where the lyrics conveyed the passion pumping in the veins of these musicians was like being teleported to another world for me. 

And, I can proudly say that the world I left behind the day I played that entire album, I've never returned to again.