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[fbhjr]

A lot seems to happen July 20th.  Back in 1969, folks landed on the moon
for the first time.  In 1976 the Viking Mars probes landed.  I know two
people who were born on the 20th.  In 1983 it was the last day of summer
classes at WPI.
And, in 1983 I thought it was my first date with my (now) wife.

The summer of 83 was a very good summer for me.  If I had to pick on summer
as my best, that would be the one.  (At least so far.)
But, it was not a good summer for me financially.

I had been taking summer classes in college for two reasons.
1) My grades had not been very good that year and I could use some extra
credits.
2) I didn’t want to have to spend the summer at my parent’s house.
But, I did not have a job that summer.  My parents agreed to loan me the
money I needed for tuition and rent, but I had very little left over.
Various on line inflation calculators say it is the modern equivalent of
having $36 a week for food, bills and any entertainment I could still
afford.  So, I couldn’t afford much.

For the end of the summer semester, I wanted to have a big party.  But, I
couldn’t afford to buy much.  So, I decided to have a “cheap party”.  I was
totally up front that I was broke and said that all I’d provide was some
potato chips and 1 six pack of beer.  Once it was gone, folks were on their
own.  (Two months earlier had been our very first Bring Your Own Steak
party that operated on similar principals for similar reasons.)
I did promise some old 8mm movies, including some black and white reprints
of some Godzilla movies, as entertainment.  (I had no stereo or television.
And, my clock radio wasn’t really up to a party.)

A few nights before at a friend’s party I met a girl and we really seemed
to hit it off well.  So, I made a big point of asking her to attend this
party I was holding, and then called her the next day to confirm she was
going to be there.  (I only made that call because my friend who had held
the other party told me she would not show up unless I called.  My wife has
confirmed this was true, even though I did not believe it at the time.)

Including myself there was a grand total of 5 people who attended that
party.  So, the one six pack idea actually worked out.  My (now) wife did
attend and we again hit it off pretty well.  (Although I’m told as I peered
down the three flights of stairs as she climbed up to my apartment, she
thought I was bald because all she could see was my face.  But, she kept
climbing, so I guess it worked out.)

For years I considered this our first date.  But, I have since been told
that it does not count because it was a party where I had invited lots of
people, not just her.   It’s true, I did invite lots of people, even if few
showed up.  But, no one else got a phone call specifically asking them to
be there.  She did agree to go to the movies with me the following
Saturday, so even if it doesn’t count as a date, it gave me the chance to
arrange one.