I like to think that I’m a fairly normal person but every now and then something comes up that makes me wonder if I’m just a few steps off the path.
When I was in the sixth grade, our school had a presentation by a troupe of presumably college students; they did some music and read some poetry – fairly classic late 60s kinds of stuff. After the show, the students hung around so we could meet them. I was with my two best friends that day – Linda and Kathleen – and we waited patiently for our turn. The student that we met was named David Shepardson and he was gorgeous-looking to three sixth-graders, longish brown hair, little goatee, tie-dye t-shirt, sandals. The full package. I happened to be wearing a beaded necklace that day and David admired it; he held his beaded necklace up so we could compare and…. our fingers touched. My girlfriends and I were all giddy. I didn’t wash my hand for a day and a half and both Linda and Kathleen checked in with me about it. They were both pea-green.
OK, so you’re saying to yourself, how is this unusual? Lots of pre-teen girls are a little wack-a-doodle. Here’s the difference. 56 years later I still have “David Shepardson Day” noted on my calendar on April 16.
And since, by coincidence, I met my BFF on April 16, 41 years ago, I do often celebrate a bit. This year I found a nice bunch of dark purplish flowers and took them up to her house, had tea and chatted for a bit. I usually send her a card as well to commemorate. During the visit on Wednesday, Sara and I realized that we’ve been celebrating David Shepardson Day a year longer than she and he husband have been married.
I often wonder how David Shepardson’s life turned out. Did he end up pursuing music or literature? Did he marry? Have kids? Travel? Does he have “Sherri Carter Day” listed on his calendar every April 16?
Do you celebrate any holidays that yours alone?