Monday, July 2, 2012

Childhood Crushes

Welcome back dear friends! I'm afraid there won't be much wisdom or inspiration imparted in the blog post this day... instead just a lot of semi-cathartic ramblings on the topic of men and which ones in particular captured my fancy when I was just a wee thing til now. Very soft PG comedy type stuff here. I swear I won't quote Freud or Jung once. ;D

The idea has been with me for a while now, starting when I mentally tried to recall every childhood fancy I took and likewise tried to decipher why I was so drawn to that character in particular at that stage in my life.As you might have guessed my Fridays have been quite free as of late...

But seriously now! This is some deep stuff, people. Besides the answer to the question of "who was your first non-real person (i.e. fictional character) crush?" is very telling. I enjoy watching peoples reaction as they recall too. *laughs*

Anyhoo, I've made a list of 15 persons whom, at one point in my life, epitomized what I thought a man ought to be.
Or they just had really pretty faces.
Either way. ;}

And now:

My Childhood Crushes
{in chronological order}


no.1 || Han Solo via Harrison Ford.
 Yes. It’s true. My first crush, my first infatuation, my first dip into the tumultuous ocean that is the opposite sex…the first guy I looked at and said to myself “yep, that’s for me” was Han flippin’ Solo.
Let me just say that I am not exceedingly proud of this and in fact blame my three older brothers for creating the atmosphere in which this occurred. The Star Wars Trilogy was never far from our VCR and there was a point (sadly, it may not even be past) when I could quote every movie verbatim. Let’s just say it was love due to proximity



And the swashbuckler attitude. 

And the cool leather duds. 

And that devious smirk.


Thanks, George Lucas. Because of you, Imma a card carrying nerd 4 life.

>>>=<<<


no.2 || James T. West via Robert Conrad in "Wild Wild West".
We watched a lot of old reruns growing up. Green Acres, Brady Bunch, I Love Lucy, Bonanza, I Dream of Jeannie…if it ran between the hours of 3 and 5, chances are we watched it. But one of our most favorite series (that is one we could miraculously all agree on as a family)  was Wild Wild West. Action, mystery, romance, bromance; this show had it all. I’m even convinced it started me on the path of 60’s lovin’ thanks to the fabulous colors schemes of the sets. I loved it for all these reasons, plus one more: James T. West. 

Honestly, with a face like that, what's to explain. 
The man was genetically blessed, the end. 


There was a lot of -this- going on...

Even, or rather -especially-, in the torture scenes.

I always had this inkling that I should like Artemas more. 
He was the better/nicer/more loyal dude.
I never was successful in convincing myself.

>>>=<<<


no.3 ||  Brother Benjamin via Jeff Richards in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.
From day one of my existence there have been musicals. Good, bad, funny, sad…they’ve always been there in my life. One in particular that got played over and over in our house thanks to the plethora of macho men in the chorus line was “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers”. I literally can’t remember a time before this movie. I also don’t recall the first moment I decided I fancied one brother in particular...but I’m pretty sure I always wanted to be Dorcus (despite her having such an unfortunate name), so maybe my girlish mind just took the next logical step and decided that Brother Benjamin was the guy for me. 



It didn’t even matter that he almost never danced or spoke.

...Strong and silent would do.

Wanting to be Dorcas wasn't just about having the prettiest face…

>>>=<<<


no.4 || Captain von Trapp via Christopher Plummer
Interestingly enough, I only really cared for the Captain for the first part of the movie. After he marries Maria and goes from Simon Cawell to Mr. Rodgers, he kinda looses my interest. But just kinda. Now that I’m older I realize I pretty much just have a huge crush on Christopher Plummer in whatever role he’s in. 



He is Canada’s greatest accomplishment.


I love this man. <3

*deep and extensive sigh*

>>>=<<<


no. 5 || Mr. Darcy via Austen's timeless story and Colin Firth in Pride & Prejudice.
He's Fitzwilliam freaking Darcy. ‘Nuff said.


Best part of the movie. 
Anyone who tells you otherwise should be doused with holy water.

He pulls off the "wet" look quite well.

There are few sights I relish more than that of a man in torment over love.
Blame Austen.

>>>=<<<


no. 6 || Gilbert Blythe via the book series I'll never be too old to reread.
In a way, Gilbert Blythe was the first male character that gave me hope for malekind. Throughout the book series I learned that yes, those annoying gross boys do grow into butterflies after the unsightly and irritating “pupa stage” that is adolescence. That boy that burps in your ear? Given a few years maybe -just maybe- he’ll become a decent human being. That was a hope many of us pre-teen girl needed/yearned to hear. He could be smug, rude, insensitive, and aggravating, but at the end of the last page there was no doubt that we could all do with a Gilbert in our own lives. 


The poster boy for gentle persistence...

...and the torment that is adolescent male aggravation.

Wuv, twu wuv...

>>>=<<<


no. 7 || Laurie via Christian Bale in Little Women.
Theodore Laurence and his fate of forever remaining in Jo’s “friend-zone” became something almost personal to me while first reading Little Women. Shaking my head in frustration never altered that moment when Jo broke not only Laurie’s heart, but mine as well. And the whole Amy deal? Ooh, don’t even get me started… Plus pre-outbust Christian Bale was always a lovely thought.



We know Laurie, we know how unfair it is...


No matter how many times I rewatch or reread...it still stings a little.

I don't know which is worse: Jo not marrying Laurie, or Amy snagging him.



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Brief Intermission Music

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And now...Part II!
{click it! you know you want to!}

1 comment:

Melissa Rampy said...

Caitlin. Dear, dear Caitlin. I feel that I could have written this post. With the exception of the first two (I've never seen those), I'm with you 100%. SO glad we're related!!! We would have made awesome sisters! :-)