There was a party at Candy Clingers house one weekend that and Marcia and I were invited to. Candy's parents were the "cool parents" which meant that they served drinks at the party, to everyone. Nowadays that would be enough evidence to not only vilify the family but also probably include some jail time. 

But this was the 1970's, and it really was a different time.

The Clinger home was really warm and inviting and being artists and theater people they had all sorts of theater posters and memorabilia on the walls. It had this wonderful warn and cozy atmosphere and even the chair I sat in seemed to envelop me in a warm embrace. I remember Marcia was talking to Candy in the kitchen and they were laughing about something and their voices filled the room with the music of their youthful joy.

I never before had any alcohol other than a sip of beer or wine as I really didn't like the taste. So when someone asked me what I wanted to drink I didn't have a clue as to what to ask for. So they suggested a Singapore Sling and I said OK and they handed me this large thick stemmed glass filled with a dark red drink and lots of ice. I asked what was in it and someone said it had cherries in it and well, I love cherries so I took a sip.

It was really good, and it was sweet, and it tasted like cherries, and then it was gone!

"Want another one" someone asked and I replied "Yeah sure, that was really good!"

The chair I was siting in seemed to be getting warmer for some reason and with all the people laughing and talking around me I thought that the warmth I felt was from everyone enjoying the party.

I just sat there smiling at how wonderful it felt to be in the middle of it all and then Marcia leaned over and with adventure in her voice said "Come on, lets go"

So I got up out of the chair and then immediately sat down again. 

Whoa so this is what drunk feels like, oh boy! I guess two Singapore Slings may be my limit!

Marcia grabs my arm and pulls me up and laughing says "Come on, you can do it!"

As we exited the house I realize that we came in my VW Beetle and there is no way I can drive and I tell her that and she replies "I can drive!"

"But didn't you drink too?" I ask and she replied "No, I didn't drink anything, I can drive"

"OK" I answered and handed her the keys.

We got in the car with Marcia in the driver seat and she started the car and it was then she realized that the VW was a stick shift and she had never driven one before, but she forged ahead anyway. With some direction from me she figured out the clutch and how to get the shifter into reverse and away we went, sort of.

She popped the clutch and we sped backwards into a dirt mound that was behind us on the side of the driveway and the car stalled. She tried to get it started but it just wouldn't start so I got out to check the engine and saw that the tailpipes were jammed into the dirt mound.

We put the car in neutral and together we pushed the car forward until it was clear of the dirt mound. I looked at the exhaust pipes and they both had dirt stuck in them so I kneeled down and took a stick and tried to clear them as best I could and then asked Marcia to try and start the car again.

She turned the key and the engine slowly turned over growling in protest until about the fifth revolution there was a loud POW as the exhaust pipes cleared the dirt along with a blast of flame and I laughed and commented "cool".

But we got it running and when I got back into the car Marcia looked at me puzzled and reached over and brushed the dirt from my face. Then she said "were your eyebrows always like that?" and I just smiled back and said "wut?"

"Lets go to Bear Mountain" Marcia offered as we crawled out of Candy's driveway in first gear.

"OK" I said "But you have to change gears" as I tried to show her how.

We made it to Route 17 in first gear and when we got to the on-ramp she was finally able to get the gearshift into second gear.

It was late at night so there was no other cars on the highway so our speed was not an issue outside the car, but inside, that was a different story.

She was having trouble finding the gears and we were still in second gear as I tried to explain "Push the clutch in and move the gearshift this way" as I tried to show her how.

"Like this?" she asked as she hit the brake instead of the clutch which launched me forward smacking my forehead on the dashboard. 

"Ow" I cried out "Sorry sorry" she responded as she tried again but this time she popped the clutch which resulted in the car lurching forward which in turn propelled me backwards and I bounced off the seat and then forward again launching my forehead into the dashboard again with another loud SMACK!

"OW" I cried out again "Oh sorry, sorry" she offered as she again popped the clutch but this time I was prepared and braced myself and prevented another impact with the dashboard and we both stared laughing. 

I was beginning to believe that this may have been the first time she ever drove a car!

It was like a carnival ride 

"Careful with the clutch" POP! LURCH!

"No, not the brake" WHAM! SLAM!

"Stay on the road!" THUMP THUMP THUMP! 

We could barely breath we were laughing so hard!

We probably went a couple of miles before she finally gave up changing gears and we traveled the rest of the way to Bear Mountain in maybe second or third gear I don't know which but it didn't matter because we made it!

She found this spot high up in the mountains overlooking a valley and stopped the car. It was a moonless night so when she turned the car off it was pitch black until our eyes adjusted to the darkness.

And then it was overwhelming.

The silence, the serenity, the stars, the smell of the earth, it was as if all of it was waiting for us to arrive.

You may only have a few times in your life when you will be lucky enough to find a moment like this or it finds you, but if you do, I hope it's a shared moment.

We didn't say another word for what seemed like forever as the cool night mountain air enveloped us and we could hear the earth sing with a chorus from the crickets and katydids. And then a gentle breeze presented the forest bouquet through the windows that we inhaled with delight.

We were both smiling as we sat together in the darkness sharing the experience of just being alive, together.

"Sorry about your head" she whispered in the dark and we both started laughing again until we couldn't laugh anymore.