New Edition | Cool It Now

August of 1984 -- "Cool It Now" by New Edition.

I've told ya'll how much I loved the summer of 1984. Great movies like NeverEnding Story. Great games like this and girlie things like Poochie for Girls. Great TV shows like Double Trouble. And best of all, great music like this tune, oh and New Edition's "Cool It Now."

The music was so innocent and poppy. "Cool It Now" by New Edition was released in late summer of 1984 and was one of my faves to SKATE and singalong to. I especially loved how New Edition's lead singer, Ralph Tresvant would call out each New Edition member name, "Ronnie, Bobby, Ricky and Mike ..." I've read that when Johnny Gill replaced Bobby, they'd sing out "Johnny". Let's not even talk about Bobby Brown's problems, shall we. Let's just remember the song and the group for what they were at the time to a 12-year-old me, FUN! 

Every weekend our parents would drop us off at Hot Skates, the roller rink in Lynbrook, Long Island. Songs by young kids like New Edition and Musical Youth were all the rage there for a while and I was lovin' it. Every song just made you want to get out on that shiny wooden floor and skate your little heart out. Backward, forward, couple skate -- just SKATE!

Relive the summer of 1984 with this classic video of young love and "Cool It Now you got to slow it down, ooooh watch out, you're gonna lose control..."

Hands Across America in 1986

I took part in Hands Across America.

On Sunday, May 25, 1986 my aunt took my little brother into Manhattan to take part in an incredibly historical moment. At that age, we had no clue it was so momentous. All we knew was that we were going into the city to hold hands with strangers in what was called Hands Across America.

On the ride in, my aunt told us that people all over the world would be involved. Little did I realize that almost seven million people were involved in holding hands for about fifteen minutes, forming a line spanning 4,152 miles from New York City to Long Beach, California.

According to Wikipedia, "Hands Across America raised $34 million, and shortly thereafter, triggered the release of $800 million in aid from the Federal government that had been approved by Congress, but had yet to be released by President Reagan." Organized by activist Ken Kragen, Hands Across America involved celebrities ranging from Dudley Moore to Michael Jackson to John Stamos representing states all over the USA and me, a thirteen-year-old kid from Long Island.

The following song "Hands Across America" was played simultaneously on hundreds of radio stations in America at 3 PM EST while everyone held hands. It was amazing!

Toyota Jump 1980s | What A Feeling Toyota

The Toyota Jump

Back in the mid 1980s, I was crazy over the slogan featured in the Toyota car commercials, "Oh what a feeling! TOYOTA!" The commercials also included a crazy jump known as the "Toyota Jump."

I recall one particular school day, right before Christmas vacation, my mom sent me to school with two gift-wrapped bottles of wine for my fourth grade teacher. Just a tip folks -- if your kid's a knucklehead, it's probably not the best idea to send them to school carrying two bottles of wine.

I was kind of a joker as a kid -- actually that hasn't changed too much. One of my favorite jokes involved me reenacting the Toyota Jump for one of my classmates. On this particular day, I somehow forgot I was holding a very heavy paper bag with the two holiday wine bottles for my teacher. I jumped into the air yelling, "Oh oh oh oh what a feeling, TOYOTA!!!"

What happened next was a complete and total disaster. I like to call it, the Toyota Jump gone wrong ... The paper bags handle snapped and the bottles smashed hard against the tile floor. Red wine gushed all over the classroom floor. The classroom stank. Kids were holding their noses complaining about the broken glass and mess. Some helpful classmates grabbed paper towels and we tried to clean it before the teacher came into the room. The rest is a bit of a blur.

All I know is that day sucked. I remember thinking I had nothing to give my teacher for Christmas. I made a huge mess. And... I looked like the biggest FOURTH GRADE NOTHING ever. I'd say that goes down in history as one of my most embarrassing moments. That also marked the last time I ever did the Toyota Jump. Ever.

Watch this 1980s Toyota commercial -- at the very end you'll see a Toyota Jump in action.