Hands Touching Hands

Last week I revisited my childhood, by accident of course.The memory triggers itself in the most obvious ways resulting in reminding you of all your gloriousness.
Example, when watching a TV show an actor that I haven't seen in a longtime is suddenly on the screen and I am brought back to age 11.Most know the story, this will be the first time to admit it in writing.
I am a product of the 80's and am not ashamed to say that most of my life lessons learned can be traced back to Molly Ringwald movies and various TV shows.What else does a child do, but watch nightly programs. I was to young to "get" Dynasty or Knots Landing, let alone stay up that late. On a good Night I was allowed to stay up late and watch The Young Ones.But mostly I grew up watching Family Ties, Different Strokes, Three's Company and a few others.But my most favorite night was Tuesday at 8:00pm.When the best show for any young girl was Facts of Life. Oh and indeed they were..You take the good,You take the bad,You take them both and there you have the facts of life..this was no joke to me. I related to Joe and dreamed of being Blair...*side note*..Molly Ringwald was on that show as well, hmm interesting.
By the time I reached 11 the new character Andy Moffet was introduced
(perhaps in a moment of jumping the shark) and I fell in love. My younger sister and I grew up writing fan letters, competing with each other who could get the most responses and autographs in return. I do cherish my CB BArnes photo , thank you! I was determined to get Mackenzie Astin's from Facts of Life, perhaps even marry him and have 4 kids and ranch where we raised goats.
My first letter to him was a bit shaky as I knew it would be the most important.I had to reach him to let him know just how much we were destined to be together.I read every page of my Tiger Beats and Teen Beats.Gathering all information I could on him the more i read the more i was convinced he was the one and if he only met me he would know this as well. I waited for the post everyday a month passed and obvioulsy the mail man had lost my first letter,i wrote again, waited..damn what was wrong with the postman and mail services.I wrote again and again and well again and for one year straight for each month I wrote him.I was about to give up when i sign happened.I had read that he was particpating in Hands Across America.This was my big chance if I ended up holding his hand we would meet.I mean yeah, he was in LA and I was in Utah but what's a few states between us. I delivered twice as many newspapers earned the money sent in the donation.A letter arrived stating where i should go on the big day...a mere 4 hour bus ride away.How was I too earn the money to take the bus ride, let alone slip away for that long without my mother knowing. Finally after much thinking I figured he was worth it all. I was to sell my bike to the neighborhood bully .Making up a story of thievery to my family as to where it went. I was lucky to have a mom that worked all day and nights most days. I bought my bus ticket, and landed in some strange city bus depot 4 hours later.Not one person questioning why a 12 year old was alone on a bus.Upon my arrival I had no idea where to go and had no money however i was wearing the most amazing stretch pants with tie dye shirt with huge hoop earings and matching belt cinched at the waist. I looked hot. Panic struck me and i did what ever little girl would do ...I sat at the bus station for 2 hours waiting for my return bus home, crying over my lost love of Mackenzie Astin, or as his friends and family call him, Mack!