Jake Ryan

Those two words evoke a dreamy sigh from almost every woman I know.

He was THE iconic 80s boyfriend against whom we measured all others (and they failed, miserably, every time).

He was handsome, wealthy, popular, sensitive, and he wasn't just in it for the sex. He wanted a relationship. Swoon. The only bad thing about him was his taste in girlfriends (I'm talking about Carolyn, who could name 20 guys who would kill to love her).

We loved him because back then, we were all Samantha. Nice girls who did well enough in school and were kinda cute, but we weren't perfect. We were flat-chested or we didn't like our thighs (or both). We felt unnoticeable. Sometimes we were grouchy and we were a bit self-involved. We were flawed (everyone is, but at that age, you don't realize it), and Jake loved us anyway. He even baked a birthday cake!


Now we realize that not even Jake Ryan was as perfect as he seemed. He was flawed too (after all, he slammed the door on his girlfriend's hair, sent her home with Farmer Ted, lent his dad's Rolls to an unlicensed driver, etc.).

But we needed Jake. We needed to believe that our own Jake Ryans were out there somewhere, just waiting for us. Ready to love us for who we are, despite our many flaws.  

And they are out there, in their varied forms. 

Beau has a cool red car and beautiful black hair... but I'd never trust him to bake a cake. :)

(You know I had to attach John Hughes' most swoon-worthy contribution to the cultural lexicon. Enjoy.)

*Sigh*