Sunday, June 5, 2011

red light...green light.

I did not read Dr Seuss...I did not drink some fruity juice...
I am talking about a glowing light...that haunts me each and every night.
Ha ha ha!

In 1978 I took my first year of swimming lessons at the YMCA on Fermor Ave in beautiful St. Vital in Winnipeg. I was turning 4 that winter...so I was a young and eager sweet little girl wishing to swim like a dolphin. Part of this memory is super foggy, like I can't remember for the life of me if this one particular lesson day was some kind of competition or what. But, one day after we were out of the water and done changing back into our street clothes we were lead to a wall cabinet that held a plethora of prizes. There were all sorts of goodies in there...I remember feeling a little overwhelmed about the choices I had. I also remember that I was super excited at the time about my new bedroom suite because it made me feel like a princess. I got a canopy bed with a matching tall boy dresser and nightstand. I must have been completely all about my very own bedroom because what I chose, I can't imagine another child picking it out of all the other cool things that were there. (Like what I chose, maybe an adult or older teen would pick out as it would be useful to them...not much use to an almost 4 year old.) In amongst the prizes I saw a clock/radio...and I wanted it more than anything. I recall my mom asking me if I was sure. "Of course I am sure...look at it...it is so pretty"...I said something like that. 32 year is a long time ago! ;op So, that is what I chose. A Realistic clock/radio. The digital numbers glowed red...how cool is that? I held my boxed up radio all the way home til we arrived in my bedroom and we plugged it into the wall and placed beside my bed on my nightstand. Yay! Now I always know what time it is. I always did like to know the time...maybe that is when my OCD started! ha ha ha!

The radio was AM only...so I couldn't get any rock stations. AM seemed to only have the stations that my grandparents listened to. But, I finally found 1290 AM...at that time it was called 13CFRW and it played everything that I liked. Madonna, Wham, Cyndi Lauper, Billy Joel...you know, good 80's music! ;o) I used to set my alarm when I was in elementary. I always set it for 7:47. I thought it was a cool time...just like the jet plane. The funny thing about that time was that for Halloween, each year for about 4 years that I can remember, they played the Monster Mash at 7:47...I woke up pretending I that am at the party and doing the Monster Mash!
"For you, the living, this mash was meant too
When you get to my door, tell them Boris sent you

Then you can mash
Then you can monster mash
The monster mash
And do my graveyard smash
Then you can mash
You'll catch on in a flash
Then you can mash
Then you can monster mash"


Awesome. Anyways...the dazzling red digital numbers. They don't give you that high intensity brightish ceiling and wall glow like the greeny coloured digital numbers do. The soft red glow just shines through the numbers and never sends out any disturbing light sources in your bedroom. I really miss my red numbers. I had that clock up until last November. We had a power outage one day and when the power came back on, my radio started playing as always, but there was only the blinking : on the screen. WHAT??? I was pretty distressed about this situation. In fact, I immediately unplugged the clock and brought it to the kitchen table, found my little screwdrivers and went to work on taking it apart and checking out the innards. There was a piece that came apart when I opened it...I crazy glued that back together instantly. All of the wires looked fine, no rust or wear, no nothing out of the ordinary. But I have no clue what I would be looking for. I played with some switch like doodads...they didn't make any difference...it's done glowing.  I put it back together and then wrapped it up and put it in a cupboard. I will eventually meet someone who knows about the mechanics of a digital clock/radio and can fix it for me...I just know it! ha ha. I know I am crazy, but whatevs! I now use Clint's clock/radio...it glows green. Last night, while I laid there trying to fall asleep I realized that I really do NOT like the green glow. It's disturbing...not soothing. I need to make it my mission to 1. find a new clock/radio that glows red, or 2. find someone who can make mine work again. It's in a box, carefully wrapped up with other special items of mine, in my crawlspace waiting to live again. I need Dr. Frankenstein!!! ba ha ha ha haaaaa!!!

Red light means good night! :o)

1 comment:

  1. Love Monster Mash! I play it for my kids.

    Mmmmmm, mash goood!

    ReplyDelete