June 06, 2006
House of Wonder Years
The very first girl I ever asked out on a date is now running for the Maryland House of Delegates. It’s not everyday you get to say that and I must add that I’m not entirely surprised at this either. Her father was in politics and for as long as I knew her; she was always involved in helping get her dad elected.
Back in 7th grade, before the invention of every adolescent boy’s nightmare – Caller-ID, 11 and 12 year old boys across the country could take personal pride and joy in the PRANK PHONE CALL. We were anonymous, we were witty (or so we thought) and we were proud of it. So one fall evening my friends and I were partaking in this glorious pastime. We had a phone book and were looking up the names of people we knew or thought we know as best as we could figure out who their parents were and where they lived.
After several phone calls that ended in boisterous laughter for us, our conversation turned towards other such important topics - GIRLS! There was a Halloween dance coming up and as every self-respecting, Wonder Years watching, middle school boy knew the ultimate accomplishment was to actually have a date. Somehow the love interests of my heart came up and we began looking through the phone book for her phone number.
I can’t remember who dialed the number, who answered the phone or even who asked the question, “Will you go to the dance with me?” I’m certain it was a team effort with my friends there. All I really remember is her saying, “Yes” and without missing a beat I replied, “Really?! Are you serious??!” The feeling of euphoria that came over me after I hung up the phone quickly eroded to absolute fear! This paralyzing fear haunted me right through the Halloween dance as I could not even bring myself to go talk to Cleopatra, let alone actually dance with her.
At least now, as an anonymous, witty (or so I think), proud citizen of the United States of America – I can cast a vote for the first girl I ever asked out. There is no fear in that; only excitement at the opportunity she will have to make a difference in our community.
Caller ID has changed everything in the realm of dating! It's how I knew a guy I went to church and who I thought was my friend was a little crazy. Caller ID revealed that he'd called 8 times in four hours! I love it. The downside is that I often don't recognize people's voices when they're calling from an unfamiliar number--because I've become so reliant on their name popping up on my screen.
I'm assuming your friend/candidate is a Republican?
Posted by: Ally at June 12, 2006 01:23 PMYikes - 8 times in 4 hours...he must have really wanted to talk to you. Either that or he liked hearing your voice on the answering machine :-)
Yes she is a Republican. In fact her dad held that seat before and when our first Republican Governor in 30 years was elected in 2002 - her dad became Maryland's Insurance Commissioner. We were all at a wedding together year or so ago and I resisted the temptation to go pick his brain about politics to let him enjoy his time with family.
Posted by: Jeff Price at June 13, 2006 11:53 AMI'm proud of your restraint and manners! I had to resist my temptation to at least speak to Maria Shriver when I kept on running into her at our hotel in Cabo. I walked past her at least 7 times our first day there, and she was just a few cardio machines down from me the next morning. But I thought about the golden rule and how annoying it must be to be bothered by strangers all the time and refrained.
Posted by: Ally at June 13, 2006 11:25 PMThanks! So where was Ahhnald??
My biggest celebrity sighting was in a Doc Martens store in London, England about 8 years ago. A female friend of mine was searching for the perfect pair of shoes, while another friend and I sat bored out of our minds. I saw this guy and I go to hit my friend and say, “Hey look at this guy he thinks he looks like…” Then I see the lady that he has is arm around and it’s Kim Basinger! So obviously not only does he think he looks like Alec Baldwin – he really is him! We let them be too, but I’m not so sure I could be so restrained now that he has been so foolishly outspoken about politics (especially if I saw him 7 times in one day).
Posted by: Jeff Price at June 14, 2006 09:14 AM