Nothing brings me back to being 8 years old and running around barefoot in the backyard at a sunday BBQ like the Stand By Me soundtrack. I rediscovered it this morning, and it’s getting me through the hell that is Spring Cleaning today. While thoughts of the boys above pulling leeches out of their underoos still gives me the willies, there’s something about the Bobette’s singing Mr. Lee that will always remind me of my childhood here in The Valley…back when The Weiner Factory was packed every day of the week, white convertible VW Rabbits ruled the road, and everywhere in LA really was only 20 minutes away.
Back in those good ‘ol days we call the ’80’s, I was treated at LA’s Children’s Hospital for a mastoidectomy that saved my life. My ears had been causing me problems since the day I was born, and as a result, they were excluded from my parent’s health care plan (thank you, American Health Care System.) I’ll spare you guys the pathetic images of my bandaged little head as I spent 17 days recovering @ Children’s, but suffice it to say that my parents were hit with a bill that would make anyone want to run for the hills. It was thanks to the kindness of strangers that we were able to qualify for a grant that paid for most of my treatment, and tomorrow I’ll have a chance to pay it forward at a Charity clothes swap that will benefit the very hospital where I underwent my first operation all those years ago.
I’ve spent the morning cleaning out my overflowing closet (and anyone that knows me knows what a daunting task this is) – fighting the urge to save my Catholic School Uniform skirt any longer (y’know, just in case I need it for a Halloween Costume,) reminding myself that the kids at Children’s Hospital LA are a worthwhile cause for these red sparkly roller-skates to go to, along with my extensive collection of Canal Street Couture.
So I bid you farewell, closet-full of Forever 21 clothes from my heavier days, Salmon-colored Marc Jacob’s pants I bought on eBay, and floor length Michael Kors jacket I snagged at this same event last year…time for you to do good elsewhere.
If you’d like to help out the patients at Children’s Hospital LA during these tough times, click here to discover all of the different ways you can get involved.
5 Replies to “Yakedy Yak…don’t talk back.”