Happy SEVENTH Blogiversary To Me!

In honor of the day, I am posting again my very first post, this time with (ta-da!) pictures. Mary Beth, is—as you’ve probably guessed—the pixie cut. The picture of us with the corsages? That’s our joint 14th birthday party! My grandpa sent us the matching corsages—a first for both of us.

And now, for Fallible Post Number One:

Mary Beth 1959

Katy 1959

14th Birthday

Today is my very first best friend’s birthday. We were five years old when we laid eyes on each other, in Mrs. Pendergast’s afternoon kindergarten class. Mary Beth was playing with the three-story doll house, which dwarfed her, and I was overwhelmed by her tinyness. I was a fragile girl myself, but being the oldest child in my family, I felt big. Mary Beth was the baby of five children, and looked and acted the part. We wore sturdy, navy blue, Catholic jumpers, starched white blouses, and impossibly cumbersome black-and-white saddle oxfords. Mary Beth’s minuscule body was lost in these symbols of sameness, but her sparkling expression was anything but uniform. I thought she was delightfully different. Suddenly, this little living doll was tip-toeing toward me, happily interrupting my project involving a huge sheet of manilla paper and a virgin box of eight perfect crayons. And there, trailing around, behind and beside her left clod-hopper was a 24-inch long shoelace, which threatened to be her undoing. And then, she spoke. “Can you tie my shoe for me?” Could I? Interruptions like these were to become the essence of our childhood union. Best friends like Mary Beth are forever calling when you’re doing your homework, or coming over when you’re supposed to be washing the dishes. She’ll want to exchange gifts when you’re supposed to be at Christmas Eve Mass, and talk about boys while you’re watching Ozzie and Harriet.

When she’s grown older and less self-absorbed, she begs you to dump your English pen-pal and start writing to her big brother Vinnie, who’s in Vietnam, so he won’t be lonely. A first best friend doesn’t happen often, but she happens with an unmistakeable audacity. Happy 47th Birthday, Mary Beth! You can interrupt me anytime.

Posted by Katy on 12/07/07 at 02:36 PM

Fallible Comments...

I remember Mary Beth, too....but I don't remember her last name. Of course, we were in different grades, so I didn't know her like you did. I do remember this very petite girl with the big eyes. I love the pictures...brings back memories of going to the uniform place to get measured and buying new saddle oxfords every year. And the BEANIES! Thanks for sharing some of your memories.
Posted by Mary Anne Green on 12/07/07 at 03:52 PM
Hi, Mary Anne! I hesitate to use Mary Beth's last name here, just because. She did go through St. Teresa's with us, too--not just St. Elizabeth's. Hey, I'd kind of forgotten the uniform place!!! Thanks for that! But, girl, I still have a beanie!! I love that thing.....
Posted by Katy on 12/07/07 at 04:06 PM
Happy Birthday and Congrats. Katy, I'd recognize you anywhere, even in 1959
Posted by Suzan on 12/08/07 at 12:25 AM
Suzan--That just may be the single best thing anyone's ever said to me. Thank you.
Posted by Katy on 12/08/07 at 03:40 AM
Congratulations, Katy! Here's to many more great years of blogging ;)
Posted by Sunflower on 12/08/07 at 02:41 PM
a bit late but...
Happy Blogaversary!

pretty cool first post.

Take Care
Michael
Posted by Michael on 12/11/07 at 05:38 PM
happy blogging to you. thanks for the CD! when you started this thing seven years ago, i'll bet you never imagined that you'd be having contests and giving away merchandise! fun times and always a great read.
Posted by joshua on 12/11/07 at 06:42 PM
Thanks for the envelope of pictures in the mail today. It's funny..I showed the two of me to Dylan, and he said, "You look just the same." Guess us McKenna woman age well! :) Love you!
Posted by Bridget on 12/11/07 at 11:04 PM
Ooops...McKenna WOMEN, not woman. Sorry for the obvious typo.
Posted by Bridget on 12/11/07 at 11:05 PM
Sunflower--We go way back, don't we? Yours was one of the first blogs I ever read.....

Michael #2--I love reading bloggers' very first post. They're always so "hey, is anybody out there?" You know what I mean? We're timid folks, we untested bloggers....But you and I are officially old-timers now!

Joshua--I wasn't smart enough to imagine ANYthing could come of blogging! My son, however, 21 years old at that time, urged me to attempt it, saying he thought I might be able to "monetize some dynamic eyeballs." I still haven't monetized eyeballs or anything else, but I've had a TON of fun!

Bridget--You have aged fantastically, if one can really call a mere forty-year-old "aged." And you DO look exactly the same. I'm proud of your genes, but what happened to ME?
Posted by Katy on 12/14/07 at 02:57 PM