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I've Got a Crush on You...and You...and You...
Hearts, flowers, crushes, and romance. Oh the memories that flood back this time of year…Take the time I was dared in second grade by my good pal, Linda Eicher, to go over to Dickie Smith’s desk and kiss him. That was no biggie. I had a big crush on the little guy and somebody had to start the ball rolling! My reward was a sticky handful of Barbara’s cherry-flavored cough drops if I did just that! Little Dickie got a quick smackeroo on the cheek and I was chomping away in a matter of seconds.
What memories of the 1950’s in helping to decorate the large class valentine box. Once designed with lace doilies, Cupid’s arrows, red and pink hearts, our class would then put a large slit in the top, and wait for the big day. I remember spending more time on valentines than on homework. It was lots of paper cutting, pasting, pride, and a challenge…all mixed into anticipation of just how many valentines I would receive of my own to take home. In latter elementary years, I would design my own little box made from Kleenex and/or shoe boxes. If just one person did not give me a valentine, I was crushed indeed!
Tim Considine, the actor in The Mickey Mouse Club’s “Spin and Marty” series, was my idol in the sixth grade. So was David Waxman. David played Little League baseball up near our school; I developed a quick love of the game, much to my father’s surprise. I hurried through my dinners to make the trek up to the school for just about every practice and game.
Ah…young crushes. This gave way to my humongous crush on actor Tab Hunter. Blonde hair and baby blues…I had pictures of Tab glued all over my bedroom walls. Junior high friends and I would hike to a local pharmacy and be mesmerized by glossy movie magazines. Hmmm…”Eddie gave Debbie two dozen red roses yet slept that very week with Liz.” Good grief! Our roving eyes often studied the risqué stories in “True Confessions” as well.
Actor Troy Donahue was next on my list of crushes. Oh, to be in Sandra Dee’s shoes in “A Summer Place!” I guess I had this thing about blonde guys maybe?
My most vivid crush back in those days was on a local guy who had a blonde crew cut and crinkly blue eyes. He often inched his desk out in front of me…thus preventing my walking down the aisle to my own desk in English class my sophomore year of high school. This boy would shoot me his charming grin and I would just roll my eyes. Dr. Arscot, our teacher, decided one day, while our class was reading Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town,” to cast this boy and me together as “George and Emily.” Sighing, we got up in front of the class and started into droll and monotonous readings. I started to giggle out of the blue and could not look this guy in the eye without bursting into hysterical fits of laughter! My laugher was returned with tears rolling down his cheeks while holding his sides because they so ached. The entire class joined the momentum. I need not tell you how this affected both our grades. However, our astute teacher seemed to foresee a little ‘magic’ and ‘spark’ between the two of us, because this cute blonde guy and I married many years later.So you see, I don’t need fancy cards, pasted hearts, flowers, candy, or gifts. All I need to know is that I still have a crush on this guy…and Robert Redford…and Sam Neill…and Joe Biden…and Brian Dennehy…and Liam Neeson…and Gabriel Byrne…and Aidan Quinn...
Until next time,
Pam
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