I had a lot to look forward to going into the summer months of 1986. Eighth grade was over and it was time to have loads of fun. It was at this juncture in my life that I began what I sometimes think of as my ‘double-life.’ I was slimmed down, vastly interested in people of the female persuasion, ready for mischief, and to be a teenager on the prowl. On the other hand, I was a geek at heart. Always was. Always will be. I had a tremendous fascination with the movie world, collecting autographs, and especially Laurel and Hardy memorabilia…but we won’t go into that…yet. 
I think that I was fully aware that this might very well be the best summer of my life, and in all honesty, it probably was. The L&H convention and upcoming camp excursions were only part of it. I had a Kings Island Season pass that I fully intended to use with my neighborhood friends Chris and Lee. I was making money with my paper route, which although I might have fussed about now and then, really enjoyed. It was fun to be in my own world listening to mix cassette tapes on my Walkman, picking apples in the lot above Secore Ct., and roaming the halls of Trinity Nursing home as I delivered papers. We would also found a way to ride out bikes through neighborhoods to the Beaver Valley shopping centers, mostly avoiding the main roads. There we would visit Lofino’s, G.D. Ritzy’s, the Beaver Valley Cinema, and Rocky’s Pizza. It was a wonderful time to be alive and free.
My Kings Island pass from 1986
Below are some photos from two events that took place during the Summer of 1986. I have not been able to date the first batch of them, but I assume this to be either a Memorial Day picnic or a Murlin family reunion that took place at Indian Riffle park. It is clear that the kids enjoyed the company of their cousins on the playground (which offers a priceless glimpse of the park that I so frequently visited for family outings, school field trips, and activities with my day care center Discovery House), as well as a family softball game on the park field. If this was in fact Memorial Day, the holiday itself fell on Monday, May 26.
Chris, Danny, and Ben prepare to mount the metal mushrooms at Indian Riffle Park – perhaps the funnest thing in the world
They go around with some gals who may or may not be related to us
Susan and Denise atop the original, uncompleted version of Spaceship Earth
Denise catches and Mom bats in a family softball game at Indian Riffle
Denise hits and runs
The second batch of photos is undoubtedly from a Fourth of July gathering at our house. Clearly we are playing with sparklers in the turnaround of our driveway, an activity that was preceded by some outdoor eating of the family picnickers. I can just feel the warmth in these photos, both from the hot, sticky evening weather and by being surrounded by family.
Fourth of July at our place: me with Grandpa Murphy and Grandma Range
Ah to recapture this moment in time, with Grandma & Grandpa, Chris, me, and Diana – letting off firecrackers and playing with sparklers in the turnaround of our driveway
I had spent the early summer counting down the days to my two huge vacations and doing my last minute contributions from my paper route to my Laurel and Hardy Fund for the convention. If I remember correctly, I surpassed my goal of $500 of money from my paper route. But before the convention would come to pass, I was immensely looking forward to my first vacation of the summer – my second go-around with Eco Adventures at Camp Woodland Altars, slated for Sunday, July 6, thru Saturday July 12, 1986. So it’s likely that I left for camp, the day after the picnic at our house.
Up next: my second year of Eco Adventures camp…
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