I have a poignant memory involving the song “Stone in Love,” released by the band Journey in 1981. I can’t tell you the exact date of my memory, but it probably coincided with the popularity of the aforementioned song, likely around my sophomore year of high school.
The memory revolves around a weekend night in the fall when a friend and I decided to locate a keg party thrown by some upperclassmen at a local golf course. Normally, I wouldn’t have attempted such an endeavor, but I was sleeping at this friend’s house, so I was more easily persuaded.
I remember the cold as we wandered around the golf course. After traversing the apparent spots, my friend concluded that the party must be over, and if that had occurred, the next logical spot would have been through the woods to a nearby baseball field.
As we were hiking through the woods, my friend announced he saw something in the distance. Sure enough, in the clearing, we could see a bonfire burning with the silhouettes of a small gathering of people milling about.
We could also hear music emanating from the group as we headed across the field. I remember being excited but also nervous. I had only been to a few real parties in my young life, and certainly not many that involved upperclassmen.
Once we became visible to the gathered crowd, everyone stopped and stared in our direction. Luckily, my friend was on the varsity hockey team and well-known to many upperclassmen. The group relaxed once they recognized him but glanced blankly toward me.
After standing next to my friend for a few minutes as he made small talk, I decided I needed to be closer to the fire since I was shaking from the cold. I wandered over and stood alone with my hands outstretched towards the flames.
After a few moments, a couple of girls strolled over and started making conversation. I was wholly appreciative of their interest, partly because I felt awkward standing alone and partly because two older females felt compelled to acknowledge my existence.
One of them turned out to be the older sister of my classmate. I knew who she was, but she had no idea who I was. They were both cute, but my classmate’s sister was really cute, and her personality made her even cuter. I stood there transfixed, doing everything I could to avoid coming off like an immature underclassman.
I can’t recall what we talked about, but my memory is that I conducted myself in a way they found endearing. And before I knew it, they went and got me a beer from the keg, which, to me, meant immediate acceptance. I wasn’t particularly fond of beer, but I certainly enjoyed that one.
So, there I was, a fumbling underclassman somehow making social progress with two cute girls that, under normal circumstances, would have had nothing to do with me. The discomfort of wandering around a barren golf course for over an hour had paid off in spades!
While all of this was happening, “Stone in Love” was blasting on a nearby boombox. That song, coupled with the cold Vermont evening and an even colder draft beer while two beautiful girls were chatting me up, forever burned the memory into my young psyche.
I don’t remember what happened after that. I’d like to tell you that the girls took me away in their car, but I’m confident my friend and I walked home in the cold. Whatever the case, I’m pretty sure I was in a good mood.
So, every time I hear “Stone in Love,” I remember that evening. And for a moment, I am transported back to that awkward teenage kid who had a chance encounter that helped transition him from child to young adult.
In this week’s feature, “We Live in Time,” starring Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield, we are introduced to another chance encounter, except in this case, the encounter leads to an extraordinary love story.
Delivered with a non-linear structure (the story chronologically jumps throughout a decade-long relationship), “We Live in Time” ultimately is a story about grief and the poignant exploration of that subject.
Check this one out if you revel in love stories, especially ones where the two key characters exhibit immense chemistry. Garfield and Pugh are perfect together, giving this film the juice needed to make it a winner.
A heartwarming “B” for “We Live in Time,” playing in theaters everywhere.
Got a question or comment for Dom? You can email him at moviediary@att.net.
