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.
As 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.
As the mom of a soon-to-be 14-year-old boy, however, I might have thrown up in my mouth.
Thanks Red. You are too kind!
Lisa – as the mom of a 13 year old girl…. I’m right there with you (especially since we now have encountered…. “the boy” )
I 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.
Yes, 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!