A Vestige of My Youth

A Vestige of My Youth

 

 

It was winter

the year my unemployment checks

were running out.

I was barely getting by paying rent

existing on cold pizza and ramen noodles,

with a diamond deck of solitaire

to kill the monotony of time.

 

It was the eighties,

the era of hair metal bands and MTV.

I worked in a record store

when LP’s were just beginning to phase out. 

A place that my friends referred to as

“the dream job.”

 

 I was single then

dating men with the frequency

of Monday night football,

writing free verse crossed legged on a hardwood floor

with a smith corona, a halogen lamp

and Jessie.

 

Fast forward twenty years

and here I am

wishing I could go back

to the rush of those nine to five days,

flipping through numerous categories of LP’s

in chronological  order,

cramming the copious names of artists

and classifications of music

into the cerebral of my brain.

 

A vestige of my youth

so well spent. 

 

Reviews

[‘Thoughts In Time..]

The memories we hold onto ...never to be lost in the truth of self 🌹

[Kelly Scheppers]

...never to be lost...never. Thank you for leaving me with such beautiful words!

[Montana ~ Arthur Henn]

I love the title "A Vestige of My Youth," suggests that these memories are precious remnants of a bygone era. I feel it’s a heartfelt reflection on the passage of time and the fondness we hold for the moments that shaped our youth.

Nicely written

[Kelly Scheppers]

Hello, Arthur! How wonderful to have your presence here. Thank you so much for the warmth of your words. It was a pivotal moment in my life that brought me to where I am now. Thank you so much!

[Montana ~ Arthur Henn]

You are welcome, Kelly

[Crowley]

I would spend all my money on music, and then have to hide it away in my closet so my mom didn't find out what I was spending my money on. One day when if Tech school in the air force I called her and asked her to go to my closet and send me my music. She totally flipped out...lol. This also reminds me of Bare Naked Ladies song Brian Wilson. "I was never cool enough to work in a record shop", obviously you were. Great stuff girl!

[Kelly Scheppers]

Lol, well being cool wasn't actually a job requirement, but it certainly helped. My customers were always complimentary and envious of my job position. What can I say, it was THE best job I ever had! Needless to say, it accounted for a good percentage out of my paycheck, always buying CD's and DVD's. So glad you enjoyed this one, Corey. And hey, I think you're pretty cool! ; )

[Patricia Wedel]

dearest Kelly… Music was our Soul and became embedded in our Poetry .. like an embroidered Pillow to rest our thoughts. gently, Pat

[Kelly Scheppers]

I love the analogy you made of music becoming embedded in our poetry, like an embroidered pillow. That's a keeper, Pat!

[Patricia Wedel]

Awwww... my Wings are strong, and if I could... I would fly away... thank you Kelly. softly, Pat

[John Alexander McFadyen]

This is dripping pathos dear Kelly. We all harp back even though we may have forgotten the pain we were in at the time. The romance and innocence, and the simplicty of our younger days is often compelling later in life.

[Kelly Scheppers]

I knew, if I waited long enough and was patient enough, you would return. So thrilled to see you again, John. Thank you!

[John Alexander McFadyen]

No thank you dear Kelly, My page was cloned and it put me off the Cafe as several people fell for it. I only drop in occassionally and have only recently posted one poem. I do read the poetry of those folks I have followed for years and yours always has a place in my heart.

[Ken Simm.]

I know exactly how you feel Kelly. I think we all have such vestiges. But whether we can remember them so well in verse is another matter. Excellent stuff that took me back as well.

[Kelly Scheppers]

Music touches us all in many ways throughout our lives. It was an incredible part of my life back then, and is still with me today. I married my assistant managers brother-in-law, so as you can imagine, every time we get together, we relive the sweetest of memories. So thrilled you could go back, Ken. Thank you!

[Einstein Noodle]

our youth, if we are lucky, is like breathing in life ... one that comes to life with every recollection .. when you mention LPs when fading from the scene, i remember at a very young age buying 45s off the racks at JP Pennys downtown store ... that was the beginning for me ;) thanks for the stroll down your memory lane Legs ... reading is a warm glow for me
E.

[Kelly Scheppers]

I always checked out the flip side of those 45's. I remember a group called "The Box Tops" , their hit song, "Cry Like a Baby" had a really cool flip side, "The Door You Closed to Me". I think the cheapest I ever paid for a 45 was seventy two cents! Thank you, Gene!

[Einstein Noodle]

i remember the Box Tops and the song .. didn't know the flip side :) love on ya girl!

[Relic]

This brings back lots of memories. I remember the female hair styles and weird UK bands styles. :)

I miss the record stores. I could pass up on some of those hair bands- haha. I did like winger though (Headed for a heartbreak):)
I do miss a lot from those days though. Good poem.

[Kelly Scheppers]

With the resurgence of vinyl, who knows, maybe we'll see record stores make a come back. It feels good knowing I was a piece of history! Thanks, Tim!

[Dianne S Penfold]

It paints a very clear picture this poem. Its a little window into your past. Well written, with vivid imagery. Sometimes we curse the experiences that we've lived through, only to miss them once they are over. Quite a thought provoking poem.

[Kelly Scheppers]

Lol, funny you should mention cursing the experience. I remember every holiday season, all the employees had to wear these dark blue aprons, so that shoppers could easily identify us among the crowd. Yet, we still had people coming up to us and asking if we worked there! So nice to meet you, Dianne, and thank you for your visit today!

[red93]

I love this K and definitely you cannot beat those old Vinyl Records for fond memories. In particular the 'Parsley Sage Rosemary and Thyme' LP by Simon and Garfunkel, placed carefully under my pillow in my Rooms at Oxford by a certain female I was in love with at the time, Xmas 1977. Set your Time Machine and take us back ✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️

[Kelly Scheppers]

Simon & Garfunkel were two of the best songwriter's back in their day. Great LP you mentioned. Their song, "The Sound of Silence" has got to be a classic. Oh, how I wish I had a time machine. Just to feel the thrill of it all, again. Thank you, Tony!