The year was 1971.
We had moved back to Canada from Germany in 1969.
(Click HERE for previous installments.)
I fell in love with Steve, who dumped me the following summer. Eric healed that heartbreak, but it didn’t last, leading to a rebound fling.
Other events: a shocking tragedy, a tussle with a stalker, and a meeting with an ornery immigrant, which changed my life.
Popular that winter were songs from a former Beatle, a favourite British trio, a Canadian icon and an American funk rock band:
Having met Eric and his Italian friends the previous fall, my social life kicked into high gear, which was great, except for his noncommittal attitude. I wanted more alone time with him, but Eric was hard to pin down.
My fondest memory is from Eric’s birthday party in February that year. I was wearing a silvery-white lamé pantsuit and we danced to The Beatles’ Oh Darling.
Things fizzled out after that, and I hardly saw him anymore. Feeling hurt and rejected, I turned to his cousin Domenic for solace. A rebound, “feel-good” fling with no strings attached.
It was fun, for a while. I remember cruising around town in his father’s light blue Chevy Nova on a sunny Sunday afternoon, the strains of Neil Diamond’s “I Am, I Said” coming from the radio. Singing along at full volume.
During the March school break, there was an inauspicious meeting with a new immigrant named Angelo. Little did I realize what a profound effect this would have in future! Our instant mutual dislike made for an awkward situation, as we shared the same circle of friends.
Other hits that spring:
My relationship with Domenic was superficial, and it quickly got old. I broke it off in May, which infuriated him, but he consoled himself with a new car: a bright red Dodge Charger Superbee.
Exactly one month after the breakup, under the influence of too much alcohol, he crashed the car and died from his injuries. I was shocked and overwhelmed by grief, but couldn’t help thinking: “What if we were still together? I could have been killed too!”
The Doors had released their latest single that month, which sounded appropriately mournful. To this day, I’m reminded of that horrific event whenever I hear it!
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My grief left me vulnerable to the charms of a dark, handsome stranger. He smelled like Old Spice and drove a black Fiat with leather seats, both olfactory turn-ons! The excitement wore off when I found out he was married and immediately dumped him.
He started parking across from my house every Sunday and tailing me when I went out. I was a little scared but more annoyed and finally confronted him. “Stop following me, or I’ll tell your wife,” I yelled. He slunk off and never came back.
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On the radio that summer:
While all this drama was going on, I would run into Angelo occasionally. We evolved from adversaries to platonic friends, and he even lent me his car one night to escape a bar fight! Unlike Shania Twain, that impressed me plenty, so I accepted when he finally asked me out.
The rest, as they say, is history!
Top row L-R: My 18th birthday – Jan. 1973 | Our wedding – Aug. 1973 | 1st anniversary – 1974 | The “Sonny&Cher” pose – Mar. 1976 | 6th anniversary – 1979 | 8th anniversary of 1st date – Oct. 1979
Bottom row L-R: 10th anniversary – 1983 | 25th anniversary – 1998 | 39th anniversary – 2012 | 40th anniversary – 2013 | 40th anniversary trip – Sept. 2013 | 45th anniversary trip – Sept. 2018
“Our” song at the time:
(A little sappy! 😀 )
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Where were you in 1971? Join me for some #MusicalMemories! #dogladysden #memoir Share on X
This is the final chapter in the series, inspired by
“THE SOUNDTRACK OF MY LIFE”
at
It Rains…You Get Wet and Your Daily Dose
Where were you in 1971?
Any memories you’d like to share?
“The Year Was…” complete series:
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Dog Mom and (retired) Canine Innkeeper in suburban Toronto, Canada, known as The Doglady. Former corporate workaholic. Writer, photographer, digital creator. Animal lover, music fanatic, inveterate traveller. Eternal hippie/rockchick. History, literature and cinema buff. Hockey and soccer fan. Dedicated night owl. German/Canadian binational, multilingual. Let me entertain you!
14 thoughts on “THE YEAR WAS 1971 | #MusicalMemories”
What a year! I am aware of some snippets, but reading everything in chronological order!!?
I’m glad you were not in that car with Eric!
Yes, it was a real soap opera. ? Good thing there was a happy ending. 😀 I’m glad I wasn’t in the car too! It was Eric’s cousin Domenic who died. Eric still lives in town, and we run into him occasionally. Thanks for coming by, Tamara. I’ll try and catch up with more of your A to Z posts.
Debbie,
I recall many of these memories you highlighted in this post from other shared opportunities. The way you and Angelo didn’t get on at the start sounds like a lot of the romantic comedies where the featured couple can’t stand each other. That’s when the viewer knows the tides will turn and a happily ever after forth coming. The music from the 70s was fabulous and I remember most of your picks from the early part of the decade. Those didn’t reach my ear during the 70s certainly made it me after I began blogging. I know your heart wrangled over the death of Dominic with a thousand what ifs. It somehow seems harder for a teen to lose a friend or boyfriend. I remember a high school friend who was killed in a motorcycle accident. It was such a tragedy. He wasn’t even 16 yet. He was riding his dirt bike on a rural back road. He wrecked and big truck backed over him because the driver didn’t see him. It was horrible news. How sad. Anywho, thanks for the walk down your memory lane, my friend. Stay warm and be well!
Hi Cathy, thanks for reading the memoir. 🙂 Yes, hubby and I have had a real “storybook” romance, but there were plenty of ups and downs along the way. Dealing with death is never easy, especially so at a young age. That is a sad story about the boy and his motorcycle. I’m sure you and your friends were grief-stricken at the time.
I’m stepping back from the Blogosphere for a while, but will check out some of your A To Z posts in April.
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Wow, you had quite the year! We have all felt hurt by someone we thought we loved. I am sorry to hear this man cracked up his car and died as a result. That must have been a shock and you still are saddened after all these years which is normal. He is remembered through you. I had a huge smile on my face when you confronted that stalker. I am so proud of you…that jerk! Funny how we can not like someone but change to love and now you are together for all this time…you are very lucky. I was 7 yrs old growing up in the country but this was the time I was sexually abused by my mom’s friend’s boyfriend. It happened many times and he would threaten my life and then, went to threaten my family’s lives if I didn’t do as he said. I still have one part that I can’t remember which is a good thing. Funny, I have no problem, now, to openly talk about it. I feel free from it even though it is painful but healed from it.
Yes, 1971 was a true to life soap opera, for me. 😛 Writing about Domenic stirred up a lot of old feelings, but it was also cathartic. Thankfully the stalker was harmless, just hopelessly besotted. Kind of flattering, in a way. 😀 I lucked out for sure, when it came to love. I’m so sorry you were traumatized at such a young age, Birgit! 😮 Good that you are able to talk about it, healing yourself in the process. ((HUGS))
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Sounds like your timing with that guy was very good… This is when you know God has a reason. I will have to come back and listen to Crowbar, as I have never heard them before, but I’m trying to work my way towards dinner right now. Sounds like Married Guy was pretty hopeless, thankfully not violently hopeless!
Yes, I certainly dodged the proverbial bullet. 🙂 I’ll take a benign stalker over a violent one, any day. He was hopelessly besotted, apparently.
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I was 20 in 1971. I didn’t have the same experiences, but a few are close. Sorry about that car accident, but you’re right you may have been with him. I’m glad you weren’t.
Love the music in different times in your life. Beautiful. I’m glad you found Angelo and he found you. A match made in heaven.
Have a fabulous day, Debbie. ♥
Thank you, Sandee! 🙂 We’ve both been around a long time and I’m not surprised we have had some similar experiences. Music and memories naturally go to together. Cheers!
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What a great story, Debbie, and I love how you combine music with happenings in your life. We parallel in many ways regarding men and cars, and music! I was married to my first husband in 1971 and we both were rockers. Music has been and always will be part of my life.
Thanks, Eugenia! 🙂 I’m glad we have so much in common.
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Hi Debbie – well you experienced life … and thank goodness Angelo stuck around for your good life. I think I was just starting out in London … but family life was uncertain … but I carried on as one does … thanks for the talented memories … always helpful to me – cheers Hilary
Thanks for reading, Hilary. 🙂 Yes, I was fortunate to find my soulmate early in life. Living in London must have been exciting!
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