A bittersweet memoir of the author's 1970s childhood nostalgically shares observations of his family life as it was shaped by influences ranging from the Steve Miller Band and Saturday morning cartoons to Bic pens and Schwinn Sting-Ray bikes

Eight-track mind -- One of these things is not like the others -- When you comin' home, Dad? -- Glory, glory, hallelujah, teacher hit me with a ruler -- Wish book -- As we fell into the Sun -- Every day's the Fourth of July -- Through the magic doorgate -- Ventura Highway in the sunshine -- Play that funky music, white boy -- Goodbye yellow brick road -- Epilogue: Oh, oh, telephone line