Taking a Stand
I had begun to pack my things and plan for a return to NJ for the summer.
John was not in my plans, and I called him only occasionally. I was still wearing his high school ring, but made this resolution: If when I left for summer John had still not affirmed his feelings for me (and only me) I was going to return his ring and head northeast with no regrets.
This had gone on long enough. A pop/R&B song from the time, Girlfriend by Pebbles, featured lyrics including “… I’ve cried my last cry, I’M OUT THE DOOR BABE—there’s other fish in the sea.” It almost became a mantra of mine.
“Girlfriend” by Pebbles
Sensing this, John did profess his fidelity. There was nothing between him and this Susan, it was just a passing fancy, and nothing had happened in Baltimore. He was emphatic in his declarations. I explained that I would not … could not endure this again.
One sunny, balmy morning in mid-May, I was on 48 East in my loaded Chrysler Laser, and John’s AMC coupe was right behind me. And so ended the crisis.
John re-established housing back at Mrs. Grogan’s, and we both immediately set out for summer work. I attended training to sell CUTCO Cutlery, but decided that commission-based door-to-door sales wasn’t for me. An old high school friend, Rich W was in the same training. Back in HS, he’d had a crush on me. He seemed pleasantly surprised to see me again.
I left Vector Marketing after the first day, and soon landed a temp job in the Revlon administration building on Route 27 in Edison through an agency. Though I enjoyed the placement, it was short-lived because the person I was replacing returned.
On the same property, the Revlon manufacturing plant was advertising summer openings for machine operator and light assembly. I went right over and applied. I spent the next two months in a green smock, first running a few lipstick cap and bottle-decorating machines, then over in Fragrances stuffing boxes with newly-sealed bottles of various scents, including Jontue, Charlie and Enjoli.
Every night, I came home reeking, often sporting a headache. I didn’t mind—it was a low-stress and fairly secure way to make some cash, and my mind was free to dream of John all day as the machines hummed.
“Knocked Out” by Paula Abdul
There were others—Bill, Jeff, Tom and Zack who joked around with me, coming around to visit during our shift and having lunch together. I enjoyed all the attention, but I was secure in the love of my boyfriend and gently rebuffed their advances.
Why these guys were gravitating toward me, I didn’t know—but hell, was it fun. Though tempted, in the wake of what John and I had just weathered, the titillation turned to resolution that I would not further jeopardize our relationship.
John began talking of marriage that summer.
Make or Break?
In June, there was a weekend MALSM gathering at the University of Delaware, and we motored down in my Laser on Friday night.
We knew this Susan would be there, and John told me he wanted to take this opportunity to tell her he loved me, and there would be nothing between them.
She arrived on Saturday, and after a day spent on the Delaware campus, we all returned to the house where everyone was crashing for the weekend. We knew this would be the time when John and Susan would “take a walk”. After they left, I remained inside watching TV with Martin and a few others, nervously talking it over. They said not to worry; John would get it over with and be back soon.
They were gone for over an hour. When John returned, he said he’d spoken his piece and Susan was fine with it. He reaffirmed his love and devotion to me, and that he intended to marry me some day.
That night all of us went bowling in town, John sucking down a flask of Jack Daniel’s on the sly the entire evening. By the time we got back to the house he was so hammered he couldn’t walk straight.
He’d been in a wild mood since that afternoon’s stroll, so I assumed the nature of this little rampage bordered on the rebellious. I slept next to him that night, holding him, petrified that he might have drank just a leeedle too much.
We drove home the next day, John slumped in the passenger seat, nursing a king-sized hangover. I was afraid he’d toss it in my car, but fortunately that didn’t happen.
An interesting summer, 1988.
“Nothing Can Come Between Us” by Sade
Sade – Nothing Can Come Between Us
“Some day…”
During one trip out to visit John’s family, John announced that we were most likely going to get engaged sometime in the near future, and that was quite well-received.
Later in the summer, John also made a point to formally ask my father for his blessing. Dad obliged with a jovial handshake—“I couldn’t imagine Lori marrying anyone else.” There was no doubting the quality of his future son-in-law.
Somehow, John managed to coordinate his college timeline with mine. Originally, he’d transferred to WVU in 1984, after two years of political science at California U. of Pa. Upon transferring and a change of major to psychology, he’d lost most of his credits.
Had everything progressed as expected from that point, he would have graduated college in May 1988.
As a music education major, student teaching added a semester to complete my credit requirements, so the earliest I could graduate would have been the following December.
Though John would never admit to this, his parents knew the score. This made it easier for us to coordinate life after college and avoid separation.
Dad decided to redecorate the living and dining rooms, and I helped him shop for pretty sky blue paint, matching window treatments, carpeting and comfy furniture. I did most of the painting myself, and once done, everything looked great. Gone were the ‘70s “earth tones” from the previous décor change, in 1974.
I gave two weeks’ notice at my job to go to ASTA, and said good bye to all my new friends (and male admirers) at Revlon. One guy, Jeff told me I really had an effect on him in the short time I was there. Bill said he’d miss me.
By mid-August, we were preparing for our final semester at WVU. With no band camp, and our living arrangements in place, we didn’t have to drive down until the weekend just before classes started.
