JOHN HUGHES FILMS

Part 1 of Memories of the 80s

When I was in high school, I had a hard crush on a football player who was two years older and lightyears cooler. He drove to school, hosted parties and made the paper. One Saturday night, right around my curfew, my ride was hugging the toilet and he offered to drive me home.

It was right out of a John Hughes movie. I was sure this was it. I was Molly Ringwald and he was Andrew McCarty and our two worlds were about to collide. He would hold my hand, walk me to my door, and we’d kiss. Cue English 80s ballad. I’d write my number on the back of his hand and he’d call me the minute he got home. We’d go see a matinee Sunday and then he’d pick me up Monday morning and we’d ride to school together.

We’d enter the doors holding hands and he’d walk me to first period, Driver’s Ed, with the miserable coach/instructor. Miserable Coach/Instructor would recognize my boyfriend from the football team and he’d give him a thumbs up and he’d give me an A.

What really happened: Crush had a Sidekick, also known as a drunk teammate, who motioned for me to sit in the back while he rode shotgun. Sidekick ate up all my air time with stupid talk about Churchill and peeing cheerleaders. The dialogue between me and Crush was limited to, ‘Right here, left at the light’. When he pulled up in front of my house I said, Thank you and he said, No problem.

I went out of my way to make sure our paths crossed Monday. To quote Samantha from Sixteen Candles, ‘When you don’t have anything, you don’t have anything to lose’. After working up the nerve to finally say hi, I knew instantly, he had absolutely no idea who I was.

Sometimes life can feel like you’re in a John Hughes movie and sometimes it feels like you’re just watching one.