It was 1973 ... and the 3 biggest things in my life where (in no particular order):
1) Top 40 AM radio
2) 45 RPM records
3) Wearing girls clothes - especially bras and panties
Oh, those wonderful nights with my radio next to my bed, pulling in those great radio stations like CKLW, WLS, WCFL, and WABC. If I was extra lucky and the gods of the aether smiled upon me, I'd catch Radio Luxembourg on the shortwave bit. Every week Id listen to Top20 on the BBC World Service also on shortwave. Needless to say, I'd hear all those great songs, which meant I'd be buying LOTS of great records -- 45 rpm singles.
On Sundays, my mum and dad along with my sister would go visit my grandpap and I'd stay home by myself. I'd dig out a skirt and top that I bought, or maybe the one dress that I had, my teen bra and some panties, some pantyhose (Today's Girl brand), and get dressed up. I'd do my nails in a pretty pink and do some makeup. I wasn't very good yet. And then, I'd toss a stack of 45s on my record player and sit reading the latest copy of Tiger Beat or 16 (to catch up on the music scene) or Seventeen (to catch up on fashion). I'd lay there on my tummy on my bed, in a scene resembling any other teenage girl around the world. Sure, I still had short hair like a boy, but that was okay, in my mind I was truly a girl in every way. Thank heavens I never did get caught.
And so, it was that I'd hop on my bike on other days, obviously in boy mode, but more than likely wearing panties and a bra if I could get away with it. My mum kept count of the undies I tossed in the dirty clothes - god forbid I should show up short on boy's undies -- hehe -- she washed more pairs of wrinkled up never worn clean boy's undies than she'll ever know.
Anyway, it was off to W T Grant's to buy 45s and panties. And when I was there, I bought the 45 of the song, whose lyrics I quote below. I also bought some really cool nail decals that had a Japanese character/ letter decoration on them. The song was Diamond Girl by Seals and Crofts. The lyrics, well, I saw them my song to the girl within me.
I was so glad I found the girl within, and that she was mine, and she is so precious to me. Part of her heaven was rained on because my mum tried to destroy her. I couldn't be me without her, and she could be her without me. We are real.
So -- that's my song -- forever and always
Huggles
Toni-Lynn
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Diamond Girl by Seals and Crofts
Diamond Girl, you sure do shine. Glad I found you, glad you're mine.
Oh my love, you're like a precious stone, part of earth where heaven has rained on.
Makes no difference where you are. Day or nighttime, you're like a shinin' star.
And how could I shine without you, when it's about you that I am?
Diamond Girl, roamin' wild. Such a rare thing, radiant child.
I could never find, another one like you. Part of me is deep down inside you.
Can't you feel the whole world a-turin'. We are real, and we are a-burnin'.
Diamond Girl, now that I've found you, it's about you that I am.
Diamond Girl, you sure do shine. Diamond Girl, you sure do shine.
Diamond Girl, you sure do shine. Diamond Girl, you sure do shine.
