Donny Osmond! This was when Donny was a totally hot teen. Jill was our captain in drill team (when she danced her shiny highlighted hair never had a strand out of place regardless of the routine – trust me, we’d purposely watch her every move and her hair as she danced!). Anyway back to Donny, Jill went on a couple dates with him. She talked about how he used the terms, “for sure” and “for real” which was totally cool and new back then. We sat around her asking all sorts of questions about her date and putting her on an even higher pedestal than before if that was possible. Come on - she deserved it! The girl was self assured and beautiful PLUS she dated Donny frickin Osmond for gosh sakes! That qualified her to be a goddess in our teen books.

I remember interviewing Donny years later. I never was a big fan. David Cassidy was it for me. You either loved David or Donny - it wasn't cool to like them both. Oh and I loved the late comedian, Paul Lynde – hey, I also love funny guys, what can I say? Okay, back to Donny again. So I’m set to interview Donny and Marie, who wasn’t very happy because the magazine I was working for at the time had written that she was getting a divorce, and unfortunately, the next reporter gets the wrath even though I had nothing to do with the item. Donny meanwhile approaches me and I had planned to ask him right off if he remembered Jill Partridge. But suddenly in that moment in real life his total cuteness and huge Osmond toothy smile took over and I was totally mesmerized by Donny Osmond! I couldn’t believe it! Maybe all of those years in high school I was stifling my infatuation with Donny thinking it was much cooler to like David Cassidy. I’m sure I spent the whole interview beet red and just throwing glowing compliments at him. Marie who?

Anyway, I never got to find out if he remembered Jill or not. I forgot to ask, can you believe it? But I sure remember Jill and I want to find out what happened to her. I bet she married some really super rich European dude and they live in this mansion in California with perfect children. Or maybe she’s PTA president somewhere in a mountainous town in Oregon and all of the moms sit in awe of her as she whips out perfect crafts and iced cutout sugar cookies for each holiday. Right now I’m sure she’s reaching in her kitchen drawer for the cookie cutters shaped like a leaf and a pumpkin. I’m going to hunt for Jill and I will let you know what I find.

I challenge you to contact a high school friend or someone that you’ve been wondering about, lost contact or just want to reconnect with. Think of at least one person and reach out! Email me at ctcoats@aol.com and let me know how it goes!

Oh and even though I’ve interviewed a ton of A-list celebs, I was never star struck except unexpectedly when I met Donny…oh and then there was the time I ran into John Travolta in the back hallways of the Mansion on Turtle Creek…that story is for another time. Or you can probably get it out of my PR pal, Karol Wilson who was with me at the time. I'm sure she'd be happy to give you a play by play of how I made a fool out of myself. But for now my lips are sealed!

Oh and in case you're wondering - if I had to interview Donny again today I'm sure I'd turn back into that stammering blabbering red-faced reporter. Blame it on teen hormones - they never go away, you know.

Reconnect ladies! Contact a friend starting today!