[AllyOops!]

This is just the best Thread, because you couldn't have picked a better year, Traci! I will forever remember 1989 as the absolute time of my life. Especially the Summer of '89!

I was 16 & a 1/2 (that 1/2 is way important, you know ) and I was working as a Culinary Hostess at my very first, brand-new job- Disneyland! I worked on Main Street at Coca-Cola Corner & The Cone Shop. It was a Summer of many firsts, actually. My first job, my first car & of course, my first kiss.

I was so shy & very sheltered, so I was kind of scared being in Orange County and away from home (Los Angeles). I drove a little burgundy Ford Escort, which I absolutely loved. I even had a little PVC Ariel that rode on my dashboard.

My orientation at Disneyland was such a blast and gave me the chance to make new friends! On our first day of Orientation, when we broke for lunch, our Orientation leaders gave us little Disney boxed lunches. We sat and ate them at the Lunching Pad in Tomorrowland while lots of characters came by to greet us. Mr. Smee picked a pretty pink flower for me, Robin Hood fed me my chicken drumstick, and the adorable Friar Tuck kept signaling "I love you" to me! He also signaled "I want your phone number" which I wasn't prepared for. I was so bashful & definitely NOT an attention-seeker.

Hey, maybe if I wasn't such an innocent Catholic schoolgirl at the time, I could have locked lips with a Holy bear of the Cloth. How many people can claim that?

Speaking of the innocent locking of lips....

My first kiss was with a guy named Chip. He was on his High School wrestling team & such a cutie with the bluest eyes & most golden tan. We were friends who worked together on Main Street and I had a crush on him, not knowing at the time that he felt the same way about me. One night, while we were riding on the Haunted Mansion, he leaned over in our Doombuggy and kissed me! With tongue! I'll never forget that exact moment- it happened in the attic next to the blue bride with the glowing, beating heart. My heart was beating, too. Actually, it was pounding. I was so nervous after that kiss that I burst into tears! Poor Chip! Our second kiss aboard the top deck of the Mark Twain was much more successful. We eventually broke-up after about 1 month, which equals 1 year in teenage time. Shortly after, I began dating Nick, who was also on his high school wrestling team. He was Italian with a total Napoleon Complex who worked on the Canoes. That was the beginning of the "I date arrogant jerks" phase (that carried me though much of my life, unfortunately) . Nick & I were dunzo the minute I said "no" to sex. I was so heartbroken!

When I think back to 1989, I think of my spirit, my energy & my optimistic vision of the whole world. I never left home without wearing my rose-colored glasses.

I was such a dorky, akward permed brunette who had a matching scrunchy for each & every outfit. I remember lots of neon, and tee shirts with sequins and glitter glue designs, Oakley sunglasses and bitchen' watches. Funky, door knocker earrings were so popular. I was a total Wet Seal-aholic when it came to shopping. And Contempo Casuals. I remember clocking in at Harbor House one day dressed in denim jean shorts, a cropped neon lime tank top, complete with a neon lime scrunchy and neon lime SOCKS worn with my tennies. Of course, big and colorful earrings finished the look. ACK!! That still didn't hold a candle to my Christmas outfit of that year- gold LAME' pants, with a matching gold lame' camisole, a sheer black blouse with gold polka dots, and huge gold and black bow earrings with a matching gold scrunchy. It was the hot item at Contempo Casuals and in retrospect maybe the most tacky and cheap look that I've ever sported. In fact, retrospect shmetrospect. I'm willing to bet it was tacky in 1989 as well.