The Random Comic Strip

The Random Comic Strip

Words to live by...

"How beautiful it is to do nothing, and to rest afterward."

[Spanish Proverb]

Ius luxuriae publice datum est

(The right to looseness has been officially given)

"Everyone carries a part of society on his shoulders," wrote Ludwig von Mises, "no one is relieved of his share of responsibility by others. And no one can find a safe way for himself if society is sweeping towards destruction. Therefore everyone, in his own interest, must thrust himself vigorously into the intellectual battle."

Apparently, the crossword puzzle that disappeared from the blog, came back.


Sunday, December 14, 2008

The Blind Date

I was a young man of 17 when I first heard it spoken by a 15 year old girl. I am sure other, maybe younger, girls had used it but just not in my presence. At that time, boys refrained from profanity around girls. Well, mostly. The profanity used was quite mild and never included this particular word. And none of the girls I knew would actually say the word in front of a boy. But she did.

She was a blind date. A pretty girl. Friendly, very friendly. Let's call her Carol (because I don't remember her actual name). It was a group date; three guys, three girls. We went to a drive-in, we talked and joked, we made out, all the normal things one might expect. Then we left the drive-in and I drove everyone home. Carol whispered in my ear a suggestion that I drop off all the others first and then take her home. I liked the suggestion. As I drove to her house she said we should tell her mother we were going to the A&W for a milkshake "but we don't have to really do that." I liked that suggestion too.

We get to her house and go in. The house is dimply lit, it's about midnight. Carol's mom calls from behind a closed door and Carol says it's her and lays out the request for more time, for A&W, the shake. Mom says "No, you've been out enough for tonight." Carol argues a bit with Mom. Mom puts her verbal foot down. Carol takes my hand, turns us toward the front door and says over her shoulder, "F___ you, Mom!" and we leave.

I was in shock. Not so deep inside my brain was the idea popped up at that moment that I was going to have sex that night with Carol. Deeper in that teenage brain, buried as deeply as it could be, where it could be ignored for a few hours, was the idea that there might be a lot of repercussions.

The night was an interesting romp all over town in my brother's little Ford Consul. First to one spot and then another where, each time, something would interfere with what we both wanted to do. We finally made it back to her house about 5 AM and there we saw police cars (yes, plural) out front, lights flashing and all. She had me drop her off a block away and around a corner.

I never saw her again but she slips into my mind from time to time even now, 55 years later. I have no idea why I am sharing this.

11 comments:

Neo said...

well it was a good story from the start, and we probably all or most have similar stories from out youth that we still think of time to time, list the time me and carol(like your use of the alias) were in the back of my toyota celica, I'll maybe post that one some day.

Michael said...

I heard my uncle exclaim it after winning HK$5000 (US$625) on horse racing when I was five. It's a sweet, crisp word that creates different impressions when spoken by different people.

I've had quite some wild experiences already and I'm sure there will be many more to come.

Thanks for sharing the story, though, Douglas. I felt connected from the moment I read that you were 17 at the time.

Michael.

Inspector Clouseau said...

There are many stories, some serious, some comedic, that could be fleshed (no pun intended) out from that set of facts. You left us hanging (no pun intended, smile) Douglas. Where can we find a less foul-mouthed, more respectful Carol today? Just kidding, my friend....

I actually have a similar story. I'm beginning to believe that stuff about girls maturing before boys. It sure seems that way.

Douglas said...

I have to wonder... This post was about a memory that circulates in my brain for no apparent reason. It was not really about Carol but about things in our past that affected us so deeply and in ways that we may not ever understand.

Anonymous said...

Douglas, off topic, I'll return for that later, just while I have this url on my clipboard:

http://astrayinalatinworld.blogspot.com/

You will find some more of my posts there from peru.

AV

gunozyg - OMG make something of that

Anonymous said...

Douglas, I had a Carol minus the police cars and I was 16, unlike you I can remember her name... She does pop into my thoughts from time to time and not because I am try to fathom anything or hold a post-mortem on my youth. She was actually my younger brothers girlfriend. ;-)

My second blind date became my wife, that was a bigger disaster than the police cars and it lasted 10 years.

The red Consul, brought back memories too, my brother had a green one. Surprising the things that hings about.

AV

Douglas said...

Av - so long as she didn't end up your brother's wife...

I did date a couple of my brother's ex-girlfriends, always wondered about their motivation.

Thanks for the link, I have added it to my Places to Visit.

Anonymous said...

Douglas... no, she didn't, but we did meet some 35 years after the fact at a party and had a good huralos about it.

AV
http://netherregionoftheearthii.blogspot.com/
http://tomusarcanum.blogspot.com/

Nikhil Krishnan said...

Hey, Mr. Douglas...

It is interesting to know that teenagers did use profanity in those days. Nowadays, it is used severely and it really doesn't sound good to me at all...Generations are getting worse time after time...

Nikhil

Douglas said...

Nikhil - I suspect that teenagers have used profanity from the very beginnings of time. You might agree with this older post of mine.

screed-on-profanity

Michael said...

I heard my uncle exclaim it after winning HK$5000 (US$625) on horse racing when I was five. It's a sweet, crisp word that creates different impressions when spoken by different people.

I've had quite some wild experiences already and I'm sure there will be many more to come.

Thanks for sharing the story, though, Douglas. I felt connected from the moment I read that you were 17 at the time.

Michael.