Sand in my shoes...

When I was in junior high school (the "middle school" concept was still light years away) I sang in the girls' group, The Harmonettes.  It was a big deal to make it into this group, and we performed for many school functions.  I scoured through my pictures last night, but alas, the picture of me in my hot pink crepe dress with my hair pulled back off my forehead and wearing WHITE GLOVES has gone missing.  On second thought, that's probably a very good thing.  But I looked like this in junior high:

 

and oddly enough, I still remember a few of the songs we sang.  As soon as we stepped onto the sand at White Sand Dunes State Park Beach, these lyrics came to mind from the 1970 Valentine's Day Coronation of the King and Queen of Love at my junior high school.  I'll keep looking for the picture, because honestly, what is goofier than junior high students decked out in two foot high crowns, surrounded by the royalty court and twelve Harmonettes wearing white gloves?!  First song--Sand in my Shoes, by the Drifters.

Oh, the boardwalk's deserted

There's nobody down by the shore

And the ferris wheel ride

Isn't turning around any more

The heat wave and the crowds

Are just old news

But I've still got some

Sand in my shoes

(Sand in my shoes)
Brings memories of the salty air
(Sand in my shoes)
The blanket that we used to share

How we fell in love
Down by the sea
Comes back to me
With the sand in my shoes

 And who can forget this timeless classic by Joni Mitchell?  Forty-three years later (ouch) I can still sing the lyrics perfectly.  But now that I really understand the song, doesn't it seem a bit of an odd and melancholy choice for a junior high Valentine program? 

Bows and flows of angel hair and ice cream castles in the air
and feather canyons everywhere, I've looked at clouds that way.
But now they only block the sun, they rain and snow on everyone.
So many things I would have done but clouds got in my way.

I've looked at clouds from both sides now,
from up and down, and still somehow
it's cloud illusions I recall.
I really don't know clouds at all.

Moons and Junes and ferris wheels, the dizzy dancing way that you feel
as every fairy tale comes real; I've looked at love that way.
But now it's just another show. You leave 'em laughing when you go
and if you care, don't let them know, don't give yourself away.

I've looked at love from both sides now,
from give and take, and still somehow
it's love's illusions that I recall.
I really don't know love at all.

And dare I ask if anyone else now equates this lovely, lovely song with the heartbreaking scene in the beautiful movie, Love Actually?  

But I certainly don't want to end on a bittersweet note, so here's a cheerful picture brighten your day!  Because in the end, life is just.....

A BOWL OF CHERRIES!!!