Thursday, March 10, 2011

Wait (1988)

After picking my son up from preschool the other day, the local top 40 radio station was playing 80's music during the lunch hour.

One of my favorite songs from high school came on, and for a few minutes, I was in stonewashed, rolled and pegged jeans, in the middle of Aladdin's Castle.

Friday night during my sophomore year would have found me at the mall with my two best friends, Kristin and Susan. I'm sure we were giving a running commentary about the cute guys from school as they walked past us. Loud, animated conversation, throwing around movie quotes, and obsessing over our current crushes. Feigned indignation at being accused of liking one of the guys we saw, maybe some mimicked swooning, and then exploding into uncontrollable laughter.

One of our usual haunts on a Friday night would be the arcade, Aladdin's Castle. Crammed closely together, loud arena rock and top 40 heavy metal playing, watching the guys compete against each other. Getting the chance to inhale their masculine scents, maybe mixed with Polo, Chaps, or Drakkar Noir. Brushing up against them in their Chess King buttondown shirts and tight jeans. Trying to catch their eye or offer praise when their efforts paid off in the game. Sending knowing glances back and forth when we got noticed by the guys we liked.

There was a jukebox with a video screen at Aladdin's for a while, and the clearest memory I have of being there was one night when White Lion's "Wait" came on. Frozen in time, I can picture the scene. The crowded corner by the front window, the hormones rushing through my system, being so close to the possibility of having a boyfriend. Hearing the words to that song; a guy in love, pleading for another chance to get it right. Hoping that one day, someone would feel that way about me.





Mama’s Losin’ It
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15 comments:

  1. AnonymousMarch 10, 2011 at 5:46 AM

    I enjoyed the image you painted with this piece. Stonewashed jeans, loud 80's rock, and teenage angst. Where the only games that were being played weren't arcade games. I like that you added the clip too, really sets the scene :p

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  2. Sam_I_amMarch 10, 2011 at 6:04 AM

    I was born in the 80's but that just really made me miss my side ponytail and t-shirt that was cut and beaded across the bottom.

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  3. AlexandraMarch 10, 2011 at 7:32 AM

    Oh, looking back on all this...

    such memories, and so many.

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  4. KimberlyMarch 10, 2011 at 7:33 AM

    White Lions...classic. You can never go wrong with White Lion. Oh how I miss the 80's.

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  5. JackieMarch 10, 2011 at 8:24 AM

    I love 80's music. A lot.

    My middle daughter loves it too.

    Now the fashions I haven't sold her on yet, but I will in time.

    Now here's the funny thing... my post today is really similar to yours!

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  6. Kristy @LoveandblasphemyMarch 10, 2011 at 9:50 AM

    Oh, yeah, it just takes you away when you hear a song like that!

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  7. KimmyMarch 10, 2011 at 1:25 PM

    Oh yeah....love the 80's music!! The best years as a kid....BY FAR! 80's music and the movies completed me. That, along with the fashion. For sure, 80's music always throws me back to that memorable time.

    Thanks for visiting my blog :o)

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  8. Ginny MarieMarch 10, 2011 at 2:04 PM

    I was a teen in the 80's, too. My favorite pair of jeans was a pair I "stonewashed" myself with a cup of bleach in the washing machine! Thanks for bringing back some good memories. :)

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  9. JackMarch 10, 2011 at 2:23 PM

    I think I was a freshman in college when this came out. I never could grow my hair long, but always wanted to.

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  10. Elena @NaynaDubMarch 10, 2011 at 6:19 PM

    Oh my gosh. Drakkar Noir. Haven't thought about that stuff in years. ;)

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  11. ErinMarch 10, 2011 at 9:26 PM

    OMG I absoultely LOVE that song! What a great memory, I think we all have wonderful memories like this locked away, and it's so great it only takes ONE song to unlock them all!

    Now I am going to go pull out my white lion cassette. YES I said Cassette! haha

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  12. AnonymousMarch 11, 2011 at 3:22 AM

    The 80's era, in my opinion, was one of the best music-wise. Almost every song had a beat and a rhythm and was a song you could dance or sing along to. I have many fond memories of being a teenager in the 80's.

    CJ xx

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  13. Michael @ adaddyblog.comMarch 11, 2011 at 10:02 AM

    Brilliantly written. You had me at, "For a few minutes, I was in stonewashed, rolled and pegged jeans, in the middle of Aladdin's Castle." Thanks for taking me back! :)

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  14. LeighannMarch 12, 2011 at 12:22 PM

    I love posts that take me back.
    Stoned wash jeans. Arcades. Heavy metal.
    Life was good

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  15. SnipeWifeMarch 13, 2011 at 6:57 PM

    LOVE the details. I must go do some downloading of my own to see if the song rings a bell. Our arcade was called Pegasus but it closed long before I could hang there on a regular basis--wish it had moved into the mall. Thanks for stopping by... from Mama Kat's too.

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