My Beatles Obsession Begins
It all started in April of 1963 when friends of my parents returned to New Jersey from an exciting trip abroad, bringing back a gift for me. They had visited a record shop in London, where a clerk enthusiastically recommended an album as the ideal present for a 13-year-old girl. I braced myself to feign surprise and gratitude, even if it turned out to be something I didn’t particularly like. However, when I finally unwrapped it, I gasped in delight. The four young men gracing the album cover were, without a doubt, the cutest guys I had ever seen.
This album, titled Please Please Me, was not available in the United States, and the band, the Beatles, was virtually unknown here. From the very first note, I was captivated.
At school, my classmates thought my newfound obsession was a bit odd, with the exception of one girl, Sharon, who was always open to exploring new things. In the months leading up to the first whispers of Beatlemania sweeping across America, Sharon and I would spend countless after-school hours listening to the album and admiring the cover. Our favorite Beatle seemed to change daily, as we debated and discussed their unique charms.
One afternoon, as we pored over the album, I noticed a small sticker on the inside of the cardboard sleeve that featured the address for the Beatles Fan Club. With a surge of excitement, I decided to write a letter and sent it off to 13 Monmouth Street, London, eagerly awaiting a response.
That summer, I found myself at a sleep-away camp in Maine, feeling homesick and missing the familiarity of my daily life. I spent eight long weeks there, and with each letter I sent home, I inquired if I had received a reply from the Beatles. Each time, the answer was a disappointing no.