By Debbie Smith Wagner
It’s summertime … and that means balmy weather and plenty of celebrations! It’s the best season to get out and enjoy live music, picnics, parades and fireworks with friends and family. I hope the following answers from our readers inspire you to put on your party clothes and join in the summer fun!
What is your best party memory from your youth?
“A disco house party at a classmate’s home, complete with disco ball, lights and The Bee Gees on the stereo. I wore my first and only glittery crop top and bell bottoms.”
– Jody Milholland, Pittsburgh
“When I was eight years old, I had my ears pierced. I wore my new gold earrings from my oldest brother to a bonfire with neighbor kids. I believe we ate hot dogs and marshmallows.”
-Cheryl Chambers, Pittsburgh
“My parents had four children in five years, and our birthdays were all between mid-September and late October. We would have a family party on each birthday, then a combined birthday/Halloween party. Each of us were allowed to invite 10 friends. We lived in a large Victorian house so there was plenty of room and it was great fun, but it must have been chaos for my parents!”
-Judy Hoover, Beaver County
“I grew up in a family where everything was a party. We had a lot of cousins. We celebrated everyone’s birthday altogether. We visited each other’s homes at different days of the week during Christmas, and we were together for every other holiday.”
-Kathy Steines, Beaver County
“My best memory was my first boy-girl party in eighth grade. I remember the excitement, my pretty party dress, and that it was the first time I was permitted to wear nylon stockings and a little makeup. The boys were still a little shy, and the girls so giddy, but we played the usual party games like “Spin the Bottle” and “Post Office.” Makes me smile to think how naive and innocent we all were at that age.
-Barbara Narcolli Aiken, Pittsburgh
“Grammy starting Christmas Eve with Brenda Lee music!”
What is your favorite type of outside party?
-Erika Schaltenbrand, Pittsburgh
“Bonfire.”
-Eddie Marx, Beaver County
“On my boat!”
-Judy Neville, Beaver County
“Luau on the beach.”
-Annemarie Ballas Tejan and Debbie Wagner, Beaver County
“The simple approach: Hot dogs and burgers (or mostly anything) on a grill.”
-Richard Gallagher, Beaver County
“Cookouts. So relaxing!”
-Frani Burge, Zelienople
“Porch party, for sure.”
-Jenda George, Pittsburgh
“On the patio with friends.”
-Ross Jennings
Vintage Debbie is a vintage history buff and performance artist with a unique style of era-specific music, dance and dress. She entertains area seniors through an interactive and fun music memory experience in Beaver, Lawrence and Butler counties. To learn more, follow Vintage Debbie’s World on Facebook, search Vintage Debbie’s music videos on YouTube, or view videos of her performances by visiting pittsburghseniornews.com. To book her for an event, email wagner.debbie@ymail.com.