Don't you forget about me- Remembering John Hughes

With the passing of John Hughes, I can't help but remember all the great moments he gave us and how much of an impact he had on my teen life.

Watching Breakfast Club for the first time, I couldn't wait to get into high school, so I could get into trouble, get sent to detention, hang out with the jock, the geek, the burner, and the freak. I, of course, would be the prom queen.

By the time high school rolled around, a few years later, the reality was I, definitely, was not a prom queen (my red hair was not quite as coiffed as Molly's, ok, it was plain out of control,) no matter how many times I practiced, I could not do the lip gloss trick (it went everywhere but my lips,) detention wasn't on a Saturday, and the teacher never even left the room, not once, and I was there a couple times.

Pretty in Pink, the following year, brought us the duck man, dreamy Andrew Mccartney, James Spader (the perfect jerk,) and the cool record store with the wacky Annie Potts. This was my movie it was going to be the story of my life: Poor little red head girl from wrong side of tracks makes dress and gets guy (all while If You Leave by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark plays in the background.)

Reality: I can't sew, and no matter how many shirts, pants, skirts, etc...that I cut up they were never wearable, and while I eventually got the guy (love you honey!) it had nothing to do with any dress I was wearing, and sniff, sniff, I was stood up for prom.

Sixteen Candles (as I write this I am singing it in my head- Sixteen Candles by The Crests) so are you noticing a trend here? I love Molly Ringwald, and let's face it there weren't too many Redheads for me to look up to, as a teen. So, Sixteen Candles- again totally me, there was always so much going on in my home that my family, never noticed me. This movie had it all, romance, drama, laughs, plenty of laughs. Remember, the drunk foreign exchange student? "Hey, sexy girlfriend!" and the drunk girl that got her hair stuck in the door, so she cut it (her hair, not the door.)

Some Kind of Wonderful (again with the singing- not in the film just in my head. Some Kind of Wonderful by- The Drifters) What a great movie! I totally associated with the tomboy drummer chick who secretly longed for her best friend, (I married mine.) The soundtrack for this movie was so good, I listened to it over and over again. Still today, when I meet someone named Amanda, I can't help but think of this movie, and sing "Miss Amanda Jones" by March Violets.

John Hughes of course had many great and memorable films and I especially love Christmas Vacation (think Christmas Vacation by Mavis Staples) which has become a family tradition for us. (My oldest insists that she will some day put cat food in the Jello. So watch out if you eat any of her jello!) With all his greats, it is the ones from the 80's that hold a special place in my heart.

As Breakfast Club closed with Don't You Forget About Me by Simple Minds, I too will close knowing that John Hughes is one we will never forget about.

2 comments:

  1. Those were some fine films. I was in high school at the time they came out and they left quite an impression. Stood up for prom? That's lousy. I was never asked - even lousier!!

    Stoppin' by to welcome you to SITS!
    carma :-)

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Thanks for stopping by! sing me a song.