We love you Annette Funicello

Celebrities come & go but I would be remiss if I didn't speak out and acknowledge for myself and  the millions of young boys that shared with me, one of our greatest joys from 1955 to 1959....and beyond. That is, how much we are saddened by the passing of our first crush, our first love, Annette Funicello. Following tribute song sung by Jimmie Dodd (Mickey Mouse Club) I was no where near the official recognized age of puberty at four years old but I do know that my heart skipped a beat or three every afternoon when I had my daily date with Annette on the Mickey Mouse Club. Even now I can't say there was anything sexual about it, even though she did grow up to be a very beautiful, sexy & talented lady. Hey, I didn't even know what sex was at 4 years old, but I did know that I was smitten. I waited each 24 hour period with baited breath for a chance to see Annette. My Annette based obsession with the "Mickey Mouse Club" was so great, and I'm sure of millions of others, that you can ask anyone from my generation to spell "Encyclopedia" and they will unconsciously do it in the exact same rhythm that Jiminy Cricket used in each episode. I would look forward each day for her to sing "Meeska, Mooseka, Mouseketeer. Mouse Cartoon time now is here" and the ending theme song each day, "Now it's time to say goodbye, to all our company. M-I-C (see you real soon) K-E-Y (why? Because we like you) M-O-U-S-E.' Her face was seen during the singing of "K-E-Y" as if she new she had stolen the key to my heart. As young as I was, I can't explain the phenomenon of my infatuation with her. I just know I had it and never lost it over the years. Thank you Annette for being my first love, may you rest in peace. You will never be forgotten, and always be loved, by millions of us. Here are some great memories of my first love! By the way, a little trivia. My dad was the driver for Fess Parker while he was in Kentucky shooting on location for Davy Crockett.

March Madness 2013, do I care? Sort of.

I don't follow any sport but baseball but being in Clarksville, Indiana, I live too close to Louisville, Ky. to ignore March Madness. Basketball, to me, is grown men in shorts, who dribble. However, I do hope Louisville wins the National Championship. Reasons? The entire state is basketball obsessed, it's either Louisville Cardinals or Kentucky Wildcats. (& sometimes at the border, Indiana Hoosiers as major rivals, as long as the coach knows how to correctly throw a chair). It's a shame no one here really supports the minor league Reds team at Slugger Field (one of the best minor league parks in the nation). It's like Alabama & football. I found by living in Birmingham that you can't drive into Alabama & only stop to get gas without the attendant asking you, "You for Alabama or Auburn?" Well, Louisville is my "hometown team" and the city will be unbearable if they don't win. Kentucky fans will cackle and the Louisville fans will either become internet trolls who will blame their final opponents of some sort of cheating or bad official calls, or they will become so depressed that there will be mass suicides across the city. If they do win, Everyone in town will be pleasant, even if they do text more while driving, but Papa Johns Pizza will give me a 45% discount for an online pizza order the day after the Cards win. Go Cards!!!!!!