Back in the day teenagers flocked to Ocean Drive in the summer in search of summer jobs, good times and hearing the jukebox music that wasn't allowed off the beach. Dancing the night away and watching the "jitterbuggers" do their thing on the dancefloors. Friendships were made that lasted through the years and stand today. The "lifestyle" of Ocean Drive began and fluorished as these early beach boys and babes grew up and became adults. Many had worked as lifeguards, snow cone cart pushers, bingo workers, waitresses and other jobs summers throughout their high school and college days.
Once adults they continued the friendships made in their earlier days of Ocean Drive. Some had gone on to finish college and become doctors, lawyers and major business owners. Some had never finished high school and wound up in the lower and middle classes. But when they met at OD none of that mattered. It was all about the bonds that bound them together during their younger years. The music was still here...and the memories will always be here. Fame and fortune was forgotten and the memories had never faded. Everyone met with hugs, shared memories and here is the OD Lifestyle that so many have sought after.
Then, the baby boomers moved in. Those born in the late 40s and early 50s either retired and moved to North Myrtle Beach....or they left and came here seeking work. Most were here to join in on the "lifestyle". The lifestyle starts to change...some of the originals had passed away, moved far away or not able to come back as in earlier years. Some of the new folks brought their cliques, along with the art of judging others that had been here long before him. With some of them it became "you can't be my friend if you're they're friend".
I walked to the OD Pavilion one day and saw Webbie, Billy Wingate, Swink Laughter and Tom Lilly sitting on the white plastic bench outside...enjoying their day, telling stories of long ago and watching the pretty ladies walking by. There was a group of new residents all dressed up ahead of me. As they passed these gentlemen, the ladies all laughed and I heard one say "senior citizens lookin' for a thrill". These "fine" ladies, here for the "lifestyle" had no inkling who these men were or that these men were key to what our lifestyle was all about. If it weren't for them and the others of bygone days these ladies wouldn't be here seeking out something they actually knew nothing about.
I am also a baby boomer but was lucky enough to have been at OD back when these fine men and women were just coming back from raising their families and rekindling the old friends from their younger days. I learned to respect these fine people and was lucky enough to get to know quite a few of them very well. I love them all! THEY are the reason I came here. Their love of old music, fas' dancin' and good times drew me in and although a late bloomer, they made me feel like I was welcome.
