In her letter to Fave, 14-year-old Leslie Nelson of Van Nuys, California, said she doubted that anyone could really define Monkeemania. But, she added, “I’d like to try and only hope to succeed, by jotting down some of the things a Monkeemaniac does. Some are silly, some are touching, some are sentimental, and some are wild. But they all have one thing in common—they belong to a Monkeemaniac.” Many thanks for your contribution, Leslie. That really says it! Ed.
MONKEEMANIA IS…
…Standing for hours outside of a drab-looking studio gate with tears in your eyes… Watching ancient re-runs of “Circus Boy”… Visiting Clarksville, Arizona or Clarksville, Tennessee… Setting your watch to Los Angeles time no matter where you live… Suddenly taking an interest in musicals “Oliver” and “Pickwick”… A soft gleam of light in the darkness… Getting your magic tickets to see THEM after tense hours of hoping and praying then waiting for that one magic moment when it seems as though they’re smiling only at YOU… Knowing that sometime in the morning he will be there—close as the summer air, with his soft smile and gentle voice… Love letters never mailed… A tear, then a smile… A scream, a laugh and a sense of belonging… Measuring yourself to see if you are Davy’s height… The feel of a hand touching yours through the fence at the airport… Searching for old pictures of “The Missing Links”… Shocking your mother by suddenly taking up knitting—wool hats!… The mystical magic of a Davy, a Micky, a Peter and a Mike. But above all, Monkeemania is the precious gift of love that no one can take away.
Leslie Nelson, A Monkeemaniac
