dear reader, a few notes about crushes

That last post was a poor excuse to subject the world to more of the terrible MS Paint work that brings me so much joy.  My sincere apologies.  Note to self: First write, then Paint.  Because in all actuality, I had a lot of things I wanted to say about crushes, crushing, crushedness, and crushdom.

I was thinking about that scene in Sixteen Candles (my hands-down favorite coming-of-age movie from the 80's) where Sam's dad wisely imparts that "That's why they call them crushes.  If they were easy, they'd call them something else."  And don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about -- even if you haven't seen the movie, the line has been immortalized with facebook bumper stickers, t-shirts, cards, facebook statuses, facebook bumper stickers, etc.  Well guess what?  That's not why they call them crushes, Mr. Baker.

More Very Extensive Internet Research informs me that the word "crush" was first recorded being used in the sense of a person someone is infatuated with in the 1880s.  Crush as a verb took another three decades.  But why the word crush, which would normally mean to press or squeeze with force?  Turns out dance parties in the 1800's were called "crushes."  And as the main forum at which boys and girls could meet and moon over each other.... presto magico, borrowed terms.... the modern "crush" was born. Who says etymology isn't cool?

And how many types of crushes are there?  Millions.  The puppy love crush.  The friend crush.  The Hollywood crush.  The hero crush.  The internet crush.  The random stranger crush.  The work crush (which by the way, is encouraged, as it results in higher work performance and morale).  The age-inappropriate crush.  The public figure crush.  The obsessive crush.  And then there's limerence, the dark side of crushing.  Called the "stalker crush" by some, it's a crazy, dark, OCD, you-are-the-center-of-my-universe kind of crush. Eww.

Fear not, friend.  My crush is rainbows and butterflies and unicorns.  No dark obsession.  In the famous words of Jennifer Paige, "It's just a little crush."

Until next time,

L

PS:  I still maintain that my favorite kind of crushing is the kind that turns grapes into wine.  Just saying.