If you Were Here {In the City, Swinging with a Mad Man} You Would Believe

Enjoy today’s guest post by Louella (aka)Terri!  Just a little trip down memory lane.  And what good memories they are!

Jake Ryan.  If you don’t get my first sentence, you probably never will.  Those two words are a complete, complex, compound sentence that wraps up a wealth of teenage girl emotions and you are either part of the sisterhood…or you’re not.   A few weeks ago, I had to do it.   I Googled him.   Michael Schoeffling.

Not one current picture in the last decade or more turned up, but a ton of totally useless tidbits do exist.  He turned 53 on December 10, 2013.   His daughter (Scarlett Schoeffling) is a gorgeous 23-year-old model.   Internet lore is that he is living happily ever after with his wife (a former model) and owns a handcrafted furniture shop in or near Newfoundland, Pennsylvania.   There have been one or two sightings/encounters recorded over the years but no mention of the store’s name.  No photos, no ratings or reviews of any of his handy work.  Nothing.  Nada.

Let’s be honest, I’m glad I didn’t really find him.  In reality, none of us in the sisterhood want to know what Jake Ryan is like now…30 years later!  He lives in our hearts exactly how he existed then.  Time has stood still for Jake.  He’s still THAT guy.

 

Michael Schoeffling, on behalf of the sisterhood, where ever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope you’re living a wonderful life.  You sacrificed a lot (either by choice or circumstance) to make sure that Jake continues to exist in the minds of “teenage girls” everywhere.   Thank you!

Hollywood, take note.   I’m talking to you Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte!   You wonderful, brave, insightful, honest and beautiful 30-somethings that gave single, savvy, career women across the nation hope.  You made 20-somethings long for their next decade.   Let’s hold on to those memories and adventures we shared.   SJP, no need to explore the characters further – less is more!  I promise to continue watching every single episode of “Sex And The City” when I’m channel surfing – regardless of the fact that I’ve seen every single episode at least 10 times.  And, thanks to “The Carrie Diaries,” it’s a blast going back in time to the ‘80s (if you’re not watching – you should be).

Harvey & Bob, a sequel to “Swingers?”  I don’t want to see what happened to Trent, Mikey and the crew now.  Let’s leave the Derby days in the mid-‘90s and remember Mikey and Lorraine swinging to Big Bad Voo Doo Daddy like it was yesterday!

 

I’m not suggesting that everyone over the age of 45 hide in a dark cave for the rest of his/her life.   There are many well documented instances of people aging more than gracefully (e.g. Demi Moore, Sandra Bullock, Hallie Berry, Meryl Streep, George Clooney, and  Johnny Depp).    But to me, none of them are held in that “iconic” category of “imaginary” best friends/boyfriends.

In that world (aka my own personal Hollywood), I dated Trent for a few months until I met Jake who was married to Samantha (Baker, not Jones).  He divorced her immediately so we could be together.   Carrie started dating Trent after me.  He dumped her when he got the role of Goofy in the Disneyland Main Street Electrical Parade…well, at least it was Disney.  And yes, Trent took that role from Rob after he was shot in the foot (accidentally) by Sue.   It all worked out OK, because now Carrie and Rob are together.  And, well, Jake and I were happily married for a few years (I told him I wanted a divorce via sticky note) until I started working at Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce.  That’s when Don Draper happened. If you don’t get my last sentence, you probably never will!