Friday, May 30, 2014

Here comes the weekend and my Friday classic oldie jam pick

Runaway
Del Shannon 1961

I hope you have something exciting planned for the weekend. We are going to a graduation party on Saturday. One of our friends completed her masters program. Other than that, I have nothing specific planned. Just coolin out!

My week long staycation is coming to a close. (sad face) It seems like only yesterday.....

Speaking of yesterday

How many of you remember this 1961 hit, Runaway by Del Shannon?
(be sure to click on the link above and listen to the song)

I lived on Andersen AFB, Guam from 1960 - 1962. The 1st school I attended on Guam was located in Dededo, Guam’s second largest most populous village (pop 45,000), encompassing thirty square miles of northwestern Guam.  I was living on Guam on November 11, 1962 when typhoon Karen (the worst typhoon to ever hit the island with winds of 185mph),  destroyed most of the houses in Dededo and damaged or destroyed 95% of all the homes on the island.

Wettengel Elementary School, Dededo Guam MI 
Wettengel Elementary School was named after Captain Ivan Cyrus Wettengel - a US Navy Captain and the 25th Naval Governor of Guam.

Runaway 1961
Charles Weedon Westover (December 30, 1934 – February 8, 1990), was known professionally as Del Shannon. He was an American rock and roll singer-songwriter who is best known for his No. 1 hit, "Runaway" in 1961.

This was a favorite song of ours. We used to sing it while munching on french fries as we walked to and from the pool (often in the rain as it rained a lot on Guam!!  hence the song reference of walking in the rain), the youth center and the Superfort movie theatre (one of 3 outdoor movies on base that you walked in and sat on benches instead of driving your car). We used to walk (and ride our bikes) all over the base anytime of the day or night. Things were different then, much safer (plus we were on a military base)

Suffering from depression, Del Shannon committed suicide on February 8, 1990 (age 55), with a .22-caliber rifle at his home in Santa Clarita, California, despite a prescription dose of the anti-depressant drug Prozac. (does anyone get the correlation yet between psychiatric drugs and acts of violence and homicide?)

Guam in the 1960's


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Other Fun Stuff-
So although I'm sure there is lots and lots to do out and about town this weekend, I have no suggestions this week (please excuse me and blame the STAYCATION!)

But....whatever you have planned (or don't)....Hope you enjoy your weekend!

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2 comments:

  1. I lived on Anderson AFB, Guam from 1967 to 1970 as a military dependent to my father. I later returned (Camp Covington, US Navy from my own enlistment). I loved the reference to the Superfort. I had so much fun going there watching some of the best movies ever. There was also the Skyview and another one that I can't recall. The one theater that was actually in a building with AC was the Mehann ... but who would want to go to that one? Sadly, the Superfort succumbed to a storm and was just a pile of rubble in 1977.

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    1. Hi Stan- Thanks for your reply. I never run into anyone who has lived there except the 2 or 3 people that I have kept up with over the years. And yes now I remember the Skyview.

      How old were you the you were there??

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