Olivia Newton John "Xanadu" (1980)
Xanadu
The year 1980 lasted about four years for me--or at least it seems that way when I look back to that time. What a roller coaster I was on! The highs, the lows, outstanding times, depths of despair, and interminable stretches of waiting for something to happen. But looking back having survived that year, it was a time I'd never give up.
Let's see--during that year I worked for four different employers and lived in five different places. I separated from my first wife and saw her move in with some guy whom I have no idea how exactly he came into the picture. A few months later I met the woman who seemed to be my absolute soulmate and who became my wife for ten years.
For the first six months of 1980 I was in my lowest of lows and then about the time Olivia Newton-John's "Xanadu" hit the airwaves I was feeling like I was in my own Xanadu of sorts. Oh, my finances were not all that great and my living was not very luxurious by any means, but a burgeoning new love made up for all that. And we were young, crazy and highly adaptable.
My new love had worked at the marketing research company where I had come back to work after returning to Richmond so I could be closer to my son. I had tried to get by in Tennessee working as a driver for an airport shuttle service, but by May when I had enough saved up to move up to Richmond, I high-tailed it up there. I ached to be able to see my boy and thought maybe I could win my wife back.
Seeing my son was in the stars. Getting back with my wife was not. However this new lady won me over in a big way. She was a college student at Virginia Commonwealth University who was intellectual and seemed more mature than my first wife even though they were about the same age. I was lonely and this vibrant lady with whom I could converse and share experiences was like starting my life over.
Offers came in from some of my show business contacts for week stretches in exciting booking engagements. My new girlfriend and I took the show gigs as a team. Our jobs at the marketing research company were very flexible so we were able to sign up only for hours we wanted to work. If we wanted to leave for a week that was just fine. We were always able to come back there to work and since we were both very good at what we did, our names were high on the list in the event that too many were wanting to work. Also, my new companion was off from school for the summer so she was free to go as she wished.
We had it made as far as adventure and fun. It was like a poor man's Xanadu. They were good times and a preview of the decade we had ahead of us.
Did you take advantage of travel opportunities when you were younger? Did you ever experience a love on the rebound? What are some of the jobs you had before you established yourself in your primary career?
I am apparently very slow. I had NO idea you had other blogs.
ReplyDeleteYes, I took advantage olf the fact that my Dad worked for Eastern and Delta airlines and back in those days all employees and their fanilies had pass priveleges. Those were the dsys, for sure.
Rebounds, I had a few before I figured it all out.
doreenmcgettigan com
Xanadu was mine, as well! X is a tough letter, to be sure, but I loved ONJ. Hearing the song definitely takes me back to the early 80s.
ReplyDeleteI just finished reading Stephanie's post. I've never seen Xanadu, but loved Olivia Newton John. Her songs were easy to sing along with.
ReplyDeleteNope no rebound loves. I think I was a rebound love once, though, but since I didn't want a permanent relationship with the fella, I just enjoying the time we spent together.
You've certainly led an interesting life! I was fortunate to have travelled extensively in the past and still do some, most recently last Sept., when we toured Greece and also stopped in Italy and Germany. As for rebound loves, yes, that happened once or twice. ☺
ReplyDeleteI like how you say that 1980 seemed to last for 4 years. It's funny how some periods of time pack so much into them. Other years just flit by like so much fluff.
ReplyDelete~Tui Snider~ Dropping by from the A to Z challenge! :D
@TuiSnider on Twitter
My blog: Tui Snider's Offbeat & Overlooked Travel
I am also part of the #StoryDam team, a friendly writing community!
Debbie said was I was going to. Quite the varied life.
ReplyDeleteVisiting from AtoZ
Katherine Walcott
http://rodneyssaga.com/
Oh, you did some major traveling and changing! I appreciate this peeking into the experiences that made you who you are.
ReplyDelete1980? I was pregnant and it wasn't easy. Mary's scheduled c-section was supposed to be on Jan. 11, 1981, but she was delivered on Dec. 31, 1980.
Many careers, but the best was being and wife and mother.
Doreen -- My sisters also worked for airlines and it made it nice for them and my parents to be able to travel to places where they could meet me on the road. Those travel perks were very nice.
ReplyDeleteStephanie--I always liked Olivia.
Teresa -- That rebound business can be risky.
Debbie -- Never have done Europe, but maybe someday.
Tui -- Years can seem fast or slow depending on how we look at them.
Katherine - I think we all have varied lives when we start examining them.
Susan K. -- Thankfully I never had to experience childbirth firsthand, but being a parent can be such an amazing experience.
Lee
I take it your new love bonded well with your son too? Oh yeah, I did the rebound thing in my youth!
ReplyDeleteI wish I'd traveled more when I was younger. I never wanted to spend the money. now I wish I had.
Great post Lee. I always take advantage for travelling as I suspect you have found out.
ReplyDeleteYvonne.
JoJo--I'm not sure how to assess the relationship between my son and I. I believe the love is still there, but things didn't turn out very well for him.
ReplyDeleteYvonne-- Yes, you are quite the traveller!
Lee