Who is Clint Eastwood?

And today's heart too, but for different reasons.

The year was 1959 and and 11 year old Iowa girl found her first heartthrob. It happened when real cowboy show, Rawhide first aired on television. If any of you remember there were no VCS's (remember those?) no instant repeats, no syndication. TV shows came on once in the season and then once as a rerun in the summer. If you missed a show, you missed it.

So when I first saw a young cowhand, Rowdy Yates, a member of the cattle train, driving the herds to market, week after week, with lots of drama, I knew that I had to be home at 7 o'clock each and every Friday night.

And I never missed one. Not one. I vividly see myself gunning my bicylce because I had forgotten the time and might not make it home until 7:05. I might miss a second of my time with the young Rowdy Yates. I was bitter when the episode seemed to short change him and elated when one focused on him.

Then one day Clint Eastwood broke my heart! Yes, he did. The TV Guide had a cover picture of him. Wow. I actually used my own money to buy it. I counted out the nickels and, not able to wait to get home, I sat on the curb to read all about him. That's when I discovered that he was 29 years old! Say it ain't so, Joe! Not only that, but he was glad! He didn't like being a teenager and was looking forward to 30! How could he do this to me?

It was never quite the same again. Well, not for many years.