I am proud to declare that I am a huge Billy Joel fan. In fact, I still cherish my first Billy Joel album. That album is not a CD but an old vinyl record. The kind that my kids think should be used as plates. I can still vividly recall the day I bought my first Billy Joel album. I was as small as my kids are now.

I was introduced to Billy Joel through the sitcom “Bosom Buddies" with Peter Scolari and Tom Hanks. I was told that the show wasn’t suitable for children, but something about the antics of two men dressing up as women hit my funny bone. I was also fond of “Three’s Company", so thinking back I wonder what my parents were thinking with regards to their seven-year-olds’ TV habits.

I was hooked by the theme song of “Bosom Buddies", and I would run around our house singing “keep it to yourself…it’s my life!" at the top of my voice. I had no idea who Billy Joel was but I sure liked his song. One day my brother told me that the guy singing it was Billy Joel, and I discovered that there was a Billy Joel album available.

My tiny brain began to spin. If I could purchase a Billy Joel album, I could listen to my favorite song whenever I want on our record player. If I had his album, I could hear Billy Joel’s song without having to wait for a week for “Bosom Buddies" to come on.

I was only given fifty cents a week for my allowance and I calculated that at that rate it would take a few years before I could afford that album. I knew that I had to have that Billy Joel album, so I started a campaign of chores to show my parents that I deserve a bigger allowance.

I did the dishes, swept the floor, dusted, made my bed, and even walked the dog. I was sure that my parents noticed that I was up to something, but they know a good thing when they see it and didn’t let on. Finally my mother announced that she thought I deserved a treat. When I told her I wanted a record, we made plans to go to the mall. I was sure my mother expected me to pick out one of my story 45’s that cost a dollar, but she effectively concealed her surprise, when I marched up to the counter with my new Billy Joel album.