Takin' care of business

1 9 7 4:  Yessss! I had permission from my parents to drive all the way from Porterville to Fresno (the big city) with Joey S. to see a Bachman-Turner Overdrive concert!

I was beyond excited, for many rea

sons: Rarely did I get the okay to go that far…alone…with a boy. And I had never been allowed to go to a rock concert (with ”all those ‘long hairs,’” as my Dad would say)…alone…with a boy.

So after having dined at Carmen’s Mexican Kitchen on Main Street in downtown Porterville, Joey and I took off to Fresno in his parents’ big brown (brown? I think) land yacht — a massive, heavy-duty, four-door sedan of some now-forgotten make and model. I don’t recall where our seats were located at the concert. Probably in the nose-bleed section. But we didn’t care. What mattered was hearing BTO sing TAKIN’ CARE OF BUSINESS!!! (To you brats younger than 50, you’ve probably never heard it. That’s your problem.)

 Anyway… the evening was wonderful!

But  TAKIN’ CARE OF BUSINESS circa 1974, when I was a junior in high school, was more than just listening to the #1 rock ‘n’ roll band singing that year’s chart-topper. It meant working until midnight on the rough draft of the term paper due next Wednesday in my World History class. It meant practicing our songleader routine for the pep rally and football game this Friday night, Porterville vs. Exeter! And it meant meeting my best friend Becky at Vogue (thee store to buy thee latest fashions) to buy an of-the-moment, perfect shirt to wear to Friday’s after-game dance in the gym. (And said shirt probably cost all of $7.)

Looking back now, life seemed so simple…

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1 9 8 4:  TAKIN’ CARE OF BUSINESS = Working 9 to 5 at the courthouse as an Official Court Reporter, negotiating with attorneys who were anxious to get their transcripts by ‘yesterday’ if possible. What else? Oh. Working out with my friends each morning at 6:00 a.m. in Corona del Mar; planning which new trendy restaurant to try out on Saturday night in Newport Beach; and dealing with the dilemma of which bathing suit to wear to the beach on Sunday. Single life to the max!

Oh, and by the way, here was the view from my rooftop:

Looking back now,  life seemed so simple,  and wonderful…

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 1 9 9 8:  TAKIN’ CARE OF BUSINESSes (plural), for now I had a husband and two growing daughters.  Yikes!

Kids up at 7:10! Fixing lunches (I admit it: I took the easy way out with ‘Lunchables’ more often than not)! Home from school at 3:10! Homework and flashcards! Refereeing the omnipresent sister yelling/bickering/rivalry! Orthodontia appointments at Dr. E’s! Soccer and basketball practice! 6:30 dinner (I admit it: I wish there were  “Dinnerables,” ‘cuz I would have fixed them more often than not)! More homework and more flashcards! Lights out by 9:00! Okay…9:30. Okay….10:00. All in one day!

Ironically, though, one of the most poignant

memories I have of

that ‘era’ was what I would say (probably way too often) to Cassidy and Julia:  ”TCOB!”  Each day (seemingly) as they headed off to school, I would say that, like that was our special,  covert, mother-to-daughter, top-secret code. It meant Take Care Of Business in Myers Family shorthand.  

Whether Cassidy was a nervous wreck about having to make a Science presentation,  or Julia had to confront her friends about “mean girl” issues,  my parting words were always “ TCOB,”  Take Care of Business.  And the rest would surely take care of itself.

(Funny how I felt my #1 task of Takin’ Care of Business as a Mom was to remind my daughters to Take Care of Business.)

 Looking back now, life seemed so simple, yet complicated, and wonderful….

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2 0 1 2:  TAKIN’ CARE OF BUSINESS = Working! Working out! Fretting/clenching my teeth/worrying about my kids — yet enjoying and savoring every single moment they share with me! Walking my Mia dog every day! Cherishing phone conversations with my Sis! Appreciating every second spent with my beloved Mom!  Relaxing/hanging out/drinking wine/reminiscing with Chuck!  Nurturing my much-needed, many friendships! Facebooking (I admit it)!  Oh… and writing this blog, which I truly love.

Life IS so simple, yet complicated, and wonderful, and glorious, and good…