NAS Alameda 1985-87

In thinking about the past the fondest memory I have is at Alameda,Ca during the 1985/87 years. I would hang out at the beach and base EM club every weekend. I made tons of friends but to this day can't remember their names. Most went by nicknames, like Sarge or Gerber Baby, or last names. I remember faces though. Go figure.

I made friends with the marines when I met them on the beach one day when my friends and I were hanging out there. Of course being young, single, and skinny as a rail helped. My mother and I eventually got a condo on Shoreline Drive. Our place, The Willows, was on the main drag and had a view of San Francisco and the beach. When we moved in I had several Marine buddies help us move and they only wanted the payment of beer and pizza for the help. Cheap labor, not quite. Those guys could drink and eat a ton....



Club today.


We partied and had a ton of fun. We would be able to flirt our way on the base to go to the club and have one of the guy's escort us inside the club. Shhhh, don't tell anyone. Everyone knew my friends and I because my white camaro was well known. I would also sometime drive there on a motorscooter. Miniskirt, heels and all. The guys loved it.

"Mom" and "Pop" were the two main people that ran the place and even though they came across as tough they loved the guys and wanted everyone to have a great time. Mom was even famous for her chili that she would make special for some of the guys. There was a section of the club just for the Marines and the rest for the navy and other guys. Of course I hung out with the marines because they were the most fun. Before the DJ started we would go upstairs and play pool for free drinks. I was a pretty good pool player then so I never had to buy anything.

I went the Marine Corps Ball in 1986 that was held in Jack London Square. It was a blast and I had so much fun dancing and hanging out with my friends. I don't have any pictures but I found this one. I am the one on the far right of the picture. In typical 80's fashion I had the brown permed hair with the off the shoulder black dress.

I saw the filming of the movie "The Principal" with James Belushi at a local bar. That was a big thing then and if you watch the movie the bar scene was filmed there. I got to see him but didn't get to meet him in person. I wonder if the bar is still there.

I think of the days cruising the main drag, going to Tillie's for a midnight meal, hitting Taco Bell after the club closed, dancing for hours, parties in a hotel room, a quiet town when the ships were out, a noisy lively town when the ships were in, diving out the barracks window when patrol came around (no girls allowed), and generally a fun time in life. I miss it.


I would love to find the guys again and see what they are up to. I heard that there is a reunion planned for those stationed there during then but of course since I wasn't active duty I can't go.

Dancing to the music.

I can't believe it was 80 degrees today. Hopefully it means that summer is right around the corner because I am looking forward to the summer. I hate the cold and winter blahs. When it is summer time I have fun traveling, running with my friends, BBQ parties, swimming, and just having a great time.

I have many fond memories of previous summers. Not a single bad summer that I can recall, well with the exception of my Ex-husband. Met him one ill-fated summer after too many Long Island Iced Teas. Six if my blurry recollection is right along with several Kamikaze shooters. I figure I was brain damaged from that stuff and that is why I had a shotgun wedding. To this day I will not drink a Long Island Iced Tea. Never had a problem with Kamikaze shooters and still love them now.

Back in the old days I spent many summers on the beach having fun and nights at the base club dancing the night away. I don't know if I am a good or bad dancer. I don't care anyway. I love to dance. I may need a bit of liquid courage at times to start but then I am fine after that. We would spend hours dancing to the beat of 70's and 80's music. To this day I just want to boogie when a favorite song from the old days plays on the radio.

When I hear a song from the old days it would trigger a memory. A song that would remind me of a night on the beach dancing with a huge bonfire or one that brings me back to my first rock concert and dancing with the crush of bodies around me. Some of the songs that bring up old memories are:


"Shout" from Animal House
"I feel for you" Chaka Khan
"Funky Town" Lipps, Inc.
"Open Arms" Journey
"Everybody have fun tonight" Wang Chung
"Love Shack" B52
"YMCA" Village People

One day a song that I hadn't heard in ages came on and I was going nuts. I was rocking away and dancing as much as I could while driving. Max was in the car with me and he was looking at me like I had lost my mind. I told him "You know how I hate rap. Well your Mama used to listen to the grandaddy of rap." He didn't believe me until he saw some show on MTV and they listed the group as one of the original rap bands. It was Whodini and the song "Friends". He actually likes that song and has it on his Ipod.

Another song that goes waaaaayyyyy back is from when I was in middle school. Every morning our bus driver would play this song on the way to the school after the last stop. It was Queen's song "We will rock you." That bus was rockin' with all of us kids stomping our feet and clapping to the song. Our bus driver never had a bit of trouble from any of us because she threatend that if we misbehaved she wouldn't play the song. Smart Gal.



What are your favorite songs that you just gotta boogie to whenever you hear it?