Thursday, January 20, 2005

Sucker for a Pretty Face

ADDICTED TO LOVE    (Part three)

The summer I was sixteen, everything changed. The possession of a drivers license was introduced. The summer was spent in a totally new environment, that of the moving vehicle! This was our new sport. One of us would secure a vehicle from our parents, usually a station wagon or something equally as mundane. The next step was to drive and pick up EVERY ONE of the gang. Then head out to the Main Drag.

You would begin anywhere on Main Street then head north or south. North took you to the Dairy Queen, where you would cruise into the parking lot, loop behind the building and head out the entrance. The purpose, of course,  was to check out who was at Dairy Queen!

Then you would head south,  back through town and arrive at the Convenient Food Store at the other end, make the turn and head back north.

The time spent cruising town was vitally important. Because everyone did it! It was crucial to be seen. Looking back, it was such innocent fun. The town's young teenage population moving at a leisurely, fluid pace. The sport was to honk at those you knew. What a melodious symphony we created those hot summer nights. Young hot blooded men, and sweet southern belles poised on the threshold of womanhood.

That is how I met John Paul. A transplant to our small community from somewhere very foreign from small town USA, Brazil. His father was an American who met his mother while teaching in South America. John Paul was one of four brothers, each one dark, with black hair and beautiful brown eyes.

I fell very hard for John. The pattern was quickly being established for the rest of my life, I was a sucker for a pretty face.

After weeks of flirting with each other communicated with varies types of car honks.... (each type of honk having different meanings....short sharp honk, means "In hurry, headed to 'fill-in-the-blank.' Long, leaning on the steering wheel means, "Look at me, damn it, I want you to pull over!" A couple of quick toots in succession means, "Hey cutie!" and so on and so on.) .....he finally decided to ask me out.

He called my house, the phone line was busy. He called later, the phone line still busy. My Mom always took the phone off the hook when the baby (Omega) was napping during the afternoon! He did not know this since he really did not know me...yet. So he tries again. Line busy.

One of my best friends, Sally, came running up to the back door of our house and came in panting, gasping for breath. She came from her house, on the other side of Broadway, at least 3/4 of a mile to yell at me, "Put your phone on the hook! John is trying to call you!!!!!!!!!"

He had called her house to see if I happened to be over there.

The two of us, with our heads pressed together, answered the phone when it finally rang, and listened to him finally ask me out to the movies!

The saga of John Paul would last a long time.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Listen to Neil Young: "but only love will break your heart...try to be sure, right from the start"

Anonymous said...

Great entries...thank you for sharing this.

Anonymous said...

I loved this entry. It reminded me of a Fannie Flagg story..."Welcome To The World Baby Girl." Great stuff...and what a cutie, too.

Anonymous said...

Carolyn And Fez? See, I've watched too many episodes of "That 70's Show." What do you mean, "The saga of John Paul would last a long time?" You're just going to leave me hanging on the edge of my seat like this? The sequel always comes out in hardback and costs $30 doesn't it? Great entry.

Anonymous said...

Such fun you had! I hope this former love has several parts to it, because you left us hanging on the cliff this time!
xoxo

Anonymous said...

You can spin quite a yarn, Mary.  Lovin' these stories.  Lisa  :-]

Anonymous said...

awwwww man he looks very much like my Bobby Snowden. I got him and I was in the 7th grade he was the big 8th grader. Man did I feel lucky. So freaky how he looks like Bobby. Well Tracy sending off your watkins book Friday so you should get it soon. Let us know when you do. Lori

Anonymous said...

He is cute as hell !

NJLB
http://journals.aol.com/njlittlebear/MyBigFatGeekLife

Anonymous said...

LOL at the image of your friend running 3/4 of a mile to tell you to answer the phone!  John Paul looks like a "hunk" (that's what we used to call the cute ones)...

Anonymous said...

Oh , Mary! He is what they call "manpretty." You got great taste in men even when you were very young. Love these "Addicted to love" entries! I know I'll suffer from withdrawals after you write the final one! Of course, I know who that is. " Hi, Zorro! Mary loves you!". Have a great weekend, you two! http://journals.aol.com/dcmeyer420/DearDiary/  

Anonymous said...

These entries are great! I'm looking forward to hearing more about John Paul. {He's hot!!!} ~Ann : D

Anonymous said...

The face reminds me of Michael from That 70's Show. I'm loving these entries so keep them coming. :)

Anonymous said...

My goodness!  Hard to believe he, too, was a frog!  Dang, can you pick 'em!  JAE

Anonymous said...

Wow! Another adorable face. You sure can pick em!

Anonymous said...

Damn for a frog he sure is HOT! :-P  I'm sitting here drooling on the keyboard.  I'm enjoying the addicted to love series your doing. :-)

Monica
http://journals.aol.com/sonensmilinmon/SmilinMonsAdventures/

Anonymous said...

omg every last one of these guys is hunky. You have good taste in men ya do ya do. Do they make them all this cute where you are from? I might move.

Anonymous said...

You were a hunk magnet. : )
Angela

Anonymous said...

Hmmm...you know, he kind of looks like Zorro. :-) ---Robbie