This week’s topic is My First Obsession. You can find Kerri’s post here.
I had the usual pre-pubescent obsessions with horses but living in a flat in Bondi meant I never owned my own horse and after a few school holiday horse riding camps my equine obsession faded and was replaced with possibly my life obsession: boys.
Representing the beginning of this journey is Leif Garrett.
Then
Now
Surfin’ USA came out in 1977 when I was 9 years old so more than likely I simultaneously loved horses and boys.
Just like today when young girls fall madly (and totally inexplicably) in love with Justin Bieber, One Direction and their annoying ilk, I fell madly (and totally inexplicably) in love with young Leif and his cohorts Shaun Cassidy, his (more mature) brother David Cassidy, The Bay City Rollers, the embarrasing list goes on and on.
I listened to their awful “original” songs and their slightly less awful covers (which at the time I did not know were covers because young girls are idiots) on constant rotation. The cassette tapes played and rewound and played and rewound.
I thought they were the most wonderful humans on the planet: beautiful, talented, smart (!!) and just a gift to all us mere mortals. What I wouldn’t have done to somehow fall into their orbit… goodness only knows what I would have done should I have been granted my pathetic wish.
So this early obsession has led to a lifelong obsession with boys and music… I’m a lot older now but quite obviously not a lot wiser.
deepkickgirl 
Wow… those then and now shots are scary! My pre-teen crush was Michael J Fox – posters all over my room.
What an upsetting demise to such a bright star. So sad.
Loving your blogs Kathy, so interesting. I think my obsession was Liberace !!!. I used to think he was winking especially to me when I used to watch his shows each week on tv. I would of been about 9 or 10 yrs I think. I can hear you laughing at this hahaha. xoxo
Oh GOD I remember Leif… the hair….! He did have a certain smouldering surfie appeal… But seriously, man, put a SHIRT on!
OMG! look at him now sheesh lol I had his picture on the bedroom wall and taped all his moves so lame hehehe love it
This: So this early obsession has led to a lifelong obsession with boys and music… I’m a lot older now but quite obviously not a lot wiser.
Yes, me to a T – perpetual fan girl! I had soooooo many (musical) crushes. My most enduring were The Knack and KISS. I think we are a similar era? In Leif’s era I was not interested in boys really. It wasn’t until I clapped eyes on Doug Fieger of The Knack that I fell utterly for *the singer*. This continues in a more diluted form to this day 🙂 Oh be still my beating heart!