Her first love: total, unmatched. She was 13 in 1964 when she saw them on TV. Love Me Do. She’d heard their songs on the radio, but seeing them play, in black and white, amazed her. Please, Please Me. She lived on a ranch near a small town, rode the bus to school. On Saturday nights, she attended dances at the YMCA, but was unimpressed. Can’t Buy Me Love. One boy squeezed her too tightly. Another stepped on her shoes. Dandruff. Pimples. They weren’t even good dancers. You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away.

At the Roxy, she sat through A Hard Day’s Night three times in a row. Throughout high school, she was loyal to her band. If I Fell. Her first kiss, with Kent Barker, dismayed her. They were at the movies and he’d been eating licorice. She’d gotten carsick on licorice as a child. Although she dated, there were no steady boyfriends. Got to Get You into My Life.

By the time the group broke up, she was far away at college. It was sad, but nothing lasted forever. All You Need Is Love. Only decades later did she realize she’d been spoiled by her first love. No mere mortals ever compared. The Beatles had ruined her. But she had no regrets. Eight Days a Week.

Good day sunshine
I should have known better
Eleanor Rigby
The long and winding road
P.S. I love you

Bio: Pat Tompkins