Reading Johnny Virgil's two-part essay about his first real date made me laugh out loud - like, tears streaming down face laughter - but also wince, cringe, and at one point - I seriously gasped out loud at some horrifyingly embarrassing moment.
Awesome essay. Still crying with laughter. It starts out with:
Let's talk about my first real date with a real girl. Before that magical moment, I pretty much exclusively dated my best friend's older sister without her knowledge. I also dated this poster of Linda Ronstadt that I hung on the wall near my bed.
I am so so happy reading writing like that.
Posted by sheilaAs a former 14-year-old girl, a small part of me is very satisfied to know that the boys were as freaked out by us as we were by them.
Posted by: Lisa at April 11, 2007 5:09 PMAs the mom of a soon-to-be 14-year-old boy, however, I might have thrown up in my mouth.
Posted by: Lisa at April 11, 2007 5:10 PMThanks Red. You are too kind!
Posted by: Johnny V. at April 11, 2007 5:12 PMLisa - as the mom of a 13 year old girl.... I'm right there with you (especially since we now have encountered.... "the boy" )
Posted by: melissa at April 11, 2007 6:28 PMI cannot get past the phrase "questing fish lips."
Johnny expresses the myth that many of us in that era (and ya'll girls too), John Hughes' scripts DO NOT REFLECT REALITY! I blew off many cute girls that liked me to go after girls that were clearly outside my class. Yeah, I got dates with them, but had similar results like Virgil.
While I'm married to a beautiful woman, I still kick myself for wasting my high school life going after women that had nothing to offer other than looks and status. Too bad I didn't date some cute girls that had great personalities who actually LIKED me compared to the girls that merely accepted dates because of my social status.
Posted by: JFH at April 12, 2007 12:09 AMYes, I think we have discussed that here before, JFH = with the whole "Jake Ryan ruined my entire life" conversation.
My favorite part was when the mother, according to plan, drove off - and Karen just can't get over it ... "why did she drive off ..." "where's she going?"
Also - his whole internal flow chart of possible responses to his phone call.
That is just so so familiar to me!
Posted by: red at April 12, 2007 6:46 AM