I Heart Jake Ryan

Last year I had to dress up for an 80s party. So I discovered a lime green "Frankie Says Relax" tee shirt, a bubble skirt and some black leggings. I also ordered two buttons: "Nobody puts baby in a corner" (Dirty Dancing) and I "Heart Jake Ryan" (Sixteen Candles).

Most of the college freshmen in attendance at said event asked who Jake Ryan was. WHAT?!? Jake Ryan was only the ultimate 80s high school fantasy.

If you haven't seen Sixteen Candles, I encourage you to rent it or watch it one of the 45 times a month they show it on TBS. Sixteen Candles was the 80s for me... Samantha, Farmer Ted and the Donger... shoulder pads, big hair, and prom queen Carolyn. Oh, and Jake. Red-Porsche-driving, button-fly-501s-and-sweater-vest-wearing, getting-geeky-sophomore-girl's-underpants-back Jake. {Sigh.} They just don't make 'em like Jake Ryan anymore.

Jake Ryan, he's the most popular boy in school. And the boy we compared all of our boyfriends to in the 80s.

Happy birthday, Lon!

Let us pause briefly and celebrate the anniversary of the birth of my beloved cousin, Lonnie. We're only two-and-a-half years apart and grew up in the same small town, so he's more like a brother than a cousin, since brothers usually hold you under the covers and fart and generally drive you nuts. But I love him. Even more than that, I love aggravating him.

This is Lon's mom, Kathy (striped shirt); my mom, Donna (John Lennon look-alike); our cousin, Brent (striped shirt); me (unfortunate yellow pants and non-matching shirt); and Lonnie (why is he gripping a doll? Manly!)



Here we are a few years later. My hair has some serious 80s side wing action.