It was a year of great events. We were getting ready to put a man was put on the moon, the car the Mustang hit the streets as the car to have, and on Sept. 4th 1965 at 1:30 am, in a small suburb called Des Plaines Illinois, Terri Lynn Doss was born. The youngest of 3 children, having two brothers, Jeff, who is 5 years older, and Richard who is 10 years older, I was considered the little terror. Heeee heeeee All six of my cousins still live in the good old' Midwest Missouri theme, as do my aunts and uncles, and did my 90 year old grandmother at the time. I swear, my aunts and uncles still live in the same homes we all grew up in and visited. In a way time does stand still in a certain American way in its old fashioned towns.
My family finally sold my grandmothers home this past year after 50 some years in her name! (I get antsy just thinking about being in one place that long! Holy cow!) I remember she ran a hair salon out of her basement and I would play beauty shop with my imaginary patrons!
At 3 years old I was already walking to the beat of my own drum. A tyrant I was, always causing trouble, throwing bubble gum on neighbors driveways, fighting with the little boys my age, stealing garbage cans (go figure) and actually got picked up by a cop that was taking me to a police station, and as my mother saw us driving away, I simply "waved" as any little toddler would going for a ride.. I actually thought it was humorous.
Still at 3 years old, can you believe I actually was so fascinated by grandma's fish tank and the big black "bubbly eyed" fish in it, that I stuck my little hand in the tank, lifted him out, opened my mouth and yep, swallowed him whole... ( What was I thinking! ) Everyone wondered what happened to "Freddy" and how could he just disappear? I'm sure you can use your imagination what kind of child I was, and soon to become!
Girls playing with dolls, boys playing with sticks: With my cousins I remember sitting out on there little porch in Moberly, Missouri at the age of 6 (population 100 if that) singing "Jeremiah was a bull frog" drinking "pop" and making frequent trips to the local "dime store" when you could buy a bag of candy for 25 cents and still have change left over! Those were the days! Life was so simple then, playing dress up, Donny Osmond posters, (he's actually better looking now!!) Wew! playing our "45's" on our record player, thinking we were really going to be something someday..
Of course Cher was my idol.. Man was she cool.. We'd play Sonny and Cher and have shows.. I always HAD to be Cher, with my long black wig and feathers I'd stick in my self made Indian tube top while performing "half breed "I even had the hair "flip" down to a "t".. We'd sell tickets to all the neighbors, who would come by and join us in the "basement" (we have those back in the Midwest) singing Olivia Newton John, Karen Carpenter songs, (funny thing is I still karaoke to her!) Captain and Tenille (of course I was always Tenille) and the infamous Sonny and Cher show.
My aunt was the worlds greatest sewer and made all my cousins clothes. I will never forget the cool "Coca-Cola" pants she made us! Hip hugger, bellbottom style of course.. ( I can't believe they are back! ) But I have to admit they were cool then, and they are ultra cool now!!
Grandma had this cool little red toy car with peddles that all the kids would take turns driving.. I remember her green Dodge Dart automobile that she must have had for 40 some years.. It was okay then, but as we got older we had a lot of laughs about the "big green dart".. when she passed away in 97' I think it barely had 20,000 miles on it.. It was in "mint condition".
Gosh.. I miss those days. The holidays, the anticipation of Santa, never quite understanding how he could fit down a chimney with presents. Life was so simple then. No worries, just innocent fun and lots of laughter.
I have incredible memories of my childhood. My father was in the drag racing business and operated several drag strips in the Midwest, which required being up at 4 am every Sunday morning, where Mom sold tickets and I ran the trophy booth.. That's where and when I became fascinated with boys! The boys all would come by the "goody booth"to visit.. ( I wonder why, heee heee ) I would be handing out trophies to the winners at the end of a very dusty, noisy day. Top fuel funny cars, just thinking about it, I can smell the burnt rubber, and the adrenaline rush! I still love fast cars! (you should see my driving record!)
My dad was always a very hard worker, whom I continue to have a great deal of respect for as a man. Mom was the perfect mom.. Her kids always came first, taking my brothers to hockey games, very involved in every way. She was everyone's "mom".. Vivacious, and truly enjoyed life, and lived life to its fullest.
In 1979, just short of 7th grade, my family made a move to the dessert, ScottsdaleArizona. Taking some modeling classes I did some local print work on a small scale,which led to an array of contacts and opportunities. Life was starting to speed up....
First boyfriend: Todd and I met at a dessert party (that's what we'd do there, drive those big monster trucks to the dessert, make a fire, and sing songs, and drink beer.)Todd and I dated for almost 4 years.
Soon after we moved to Scottsdale my parents got divorced. Needless to say I was devastated. Still to this day I am a very cautious person and the friends I do have I have had for many years. Wasn't much good in school in the social scene, and I remember in 8th grade a very popular boy tried to kiss me, and because I wouldn't, the rumor soon spread on what a "prude" I was. (Quite a compliment now, now that I think about it!) It was written on my locker, in the bathrooms, all over the school.
Although my poor grades kept me grounded most of the time, (the teachers always said they "believed in me" and would kick my butt to learning more, to me acquiring for myself a passing grade..) I certainly was not "One of those"honor roll kids.. A boring thought at the time, through a child's eyes. I was quite the rebel, always braking the rules..even being suspended from school once for smoking in the bathroom with my best friend Lisa! My classification then was a "wanna be surfer girl" you know, dressed in my surfer clothes (yeah right, like where's the beach?) my California Vans, and my dark Arizona tan.. Kids!
The girls hated me and I was clueless why. The boys found me to be peculiar and different from the rest. I remember trying out for Pom Pom but my grades were not nearly what they had to be to make the team.
My peers were usually the rebellious type, that went against the grain, not the "goody goody" girls and guys. I was definitely a rebel with a good cause! Well so I thought back then. Haa haaa.. I didn't care much for school then but today think fondly of the memories.. Yes.ssss I did love the boys back then!
Being a part of PLAYBOY history is an honor..I am grateful for all of the doors that opened for me. I am lucky to fulfill my aspirations while managing to keep both feet planted firmly on the ground thanks to a wonderful family and people around me. Today I am a proud mother of two very beautiful teenage girls. They are the greatest gift and challenge in my lifetime. I strive to understand with an open heart with eyes wide open. They are my purpose and a love like no other. I think that I have experienced every emotion humanely possible since becoming a Mother. Children are a blessing and I dedicate my life to them. I am still learning..AND growing. Old friends and some new ones have inspired me and accept my crazy, unpredictable self..thank you all for sticking by me. I love to be spontaneous (which some people cannot handle). I am unpredictable, and a true risk taker. Love is a funny thing..I say very little, yet am blessed with the gift of intuition and surround myself by those who are HONEST and don't mistake my vulnerability for stupidity.
Living and learning life's lessons everyday. I am a daughter. Mother, sister, grand daughter, cousin, aunt, friend and a student...a young girl and a grown woman. Confident yet scared and terrified and excited. I am loving, caring, grateful and hopeful...careful, careless, carefree, broken and whole ....terrified and excited. I am misunderstood, mislead, intuitive, quiet and annoying. determined unpredictable and strong. I wish on stars believe in faith and dream my dreams. I pray and unafraid to be vulnerable. I walk on egg shells and walk on fire. I speak my mind, and rarely think before I speak. I am flawed and proud of it.
I believe in passion and true love. I am just me ...and am enjoying the quest and the journey called life...full of the unknown yet knowing through adversity that I am strong and embrace it all!
....terrified and excited. I am misunderstood, mislead, intuitive, quiet and annoying. determined unpredictable and strong. I wish on stars believe in faith and dream my dreams. I pray and unafraid to be vulnerable. I walk on egg shells and walk on fire. I speak my mind, and rarely think before I speak. I am flawed and proud of it.