Friends, I know that most of my wedding-themed posts over the past few days have been humorous in nature, but I wanted to shift gears a little today and talking about something–rather, someone–special to me. My father passed away in ’06 and I miss him terribly. One of my favorite memories was dancing with him at my oldest daughter’s wedding (in ’04). Someone caught a picture of the two of us, and I still love that photo. It means the world to me, especially now that he’s gone.
If you read between the lines in my novels, you will find a strong “father/daughter” theme. This is especially true in my novel LOVE ME TENDER (Summerside Press). In that story, Debbie Carmichael works with/for her dad at the family’s soda shop in Laguna Beach California. You might wonder how/why I chose Laguna Beach. This, too, goes back to my father. Every year he would rent a house in Laguna and would invite us to come and spend a week with him. He would take us to Ruby’s (a 50′s style soda shop) and we would have a blast eating burgers and fries (and sipping chocolate shakes). My dad was also crazy about Elvis. I grew up listening to Elvis sing “Crying in the Chapel,” (a family favorite).
Love Me Tender
LOVE ME TENDER is my tribute to my father. When I read it, I can almost envision that special night at my daughter’s wedding when my daddy swept me into his arms for a spin around the dance floor.
SYNOPSIS: As “Love Me Tender” plays in the background, Debbie Carmichael determines to salvage his family’s restaurant, Sweet Sal’s Soda Shoppe, after her father’s health fails. Teen heartthrob Bobby Conrad agrees to perform at a fund-raiser concert. But just two weeks before the highly publicized event, Bobby backs out of the benefit. Enter…Johnny Hartman, a young, unknown singer. Debbie soon realizes the twists and turns leading up to the concert have been divinely orchestrated. And it isn’t dreamy Bobby Conrad wh has stolen her heart–but the tender Johnny Hartman.
P.S. I miss you, Dad. Can’t wait to take a spin around those streets of gold with you!
What wonderful memories, Janice! I can picture them perfectly because I spent many happy times in Laguna Beach, myself, growing up. OK… at risk of dating us… do you remember the old man who used to walk the streets and became sort of an icon for the town? Our visits were never quite complete until we spotted him. Oh, yes, and always had to have a souvenir from THE POTTERY BARN. And the sunburns– oh, the sunburns! Back then we put vinegar on them… thanks for the memories!
Lilly, are you talking about the guy who looks like Jesus? We saw him in Laguna and also saw him at Huntington beach. Love, love, love the Pottery Barn. Bought a beautiful decorative piece for my oldest daughter’s wedding.
Did you already tell me that you grew up in Laguna? I don’t remember.
He had long white hair and a beard. There was even a statue of him at one time. I didn’t grow up in Laguna Beach, but farther north in Thousand Oaks. Still, we were up and down along all the beaches between San Francisco and Mexico throughout my growing up years. When I was a teenager, a large group of us lived all summer at the beach (with one of our teachers as chaperone) by pitching in ten cents each a day… can’t do that, anymore!