WWhat will this summer
bring for Jane, Joe, Ron,
Michelle. Barbara, Melissa
and Sally? Will it really
mean romance for those
that want it? Will it mean romance for
those who don t expect it? Will it wreck
romance for those who have it? The
Emerald will be following the progress
of these "very real" lives throughout
this summer.
Romance can happen any time, but
there’s something definitely special
about the summer variety Students we
talked to who had had summer
romances agreed with this observation
and most of those who had not had the
experience yet yearned to learn if it’s
true.
Take Jane, for instance
“I’ve always thought of summer as a
time for work or travel," she says “I’ve
never had a summer romance, so I
wouldn't know what it’s like It’s tragic.”
But she hopes the time may be right
for that tragedy to end. Like two other
spring and summer romances, her latest
romance ended with "goodbyes
forever" at the start of the summer. He
left for Houston and Europe this past
Monday. “It was nice, I'm not bitter,”
she says, apparently mentally set for her
first summer romance.
In contrast to Jane, Joe has had
several summer flings. "The season
lends itself to carefree romance,” he
says, enthusiastically. “There’s a certain
attitude, short term, no commitments."
“Incredible” is how he immediately
describes his summer dalliances. Joe's
most memorable romance occurred in
the wilds of northern Wisconsin, where
he was a camp staff member. His
summer girlfriend was a fellow camp
worker from Sweden
Photos by Mark Pynes
The summer sun brings a special
flavor to romance for some — and
nothing out of the ordinary for others
“I got a lifelong friend out of (the
experience),” he says, adding that the
opportunity was there for a more
permanent relationship, but that he and
his friend are happy being separate at
this point. Stretching things beyond the
summer just didn't seem right, he says
For Ron, a summer romance led to his
recent marriage His wife-to-be was
involved in a crumbling marriage and
secretly arranged a rendezvous with
him. The two shared a sandwich and a
bottle of wine by the Umpqua River. Ron
had been going out with "two or three”
women at the time — his theory of
summer romance had been that the
summer was a time to meet many
members of the opposite sex.
"But when you get one you like, you
kinda have to make a decision. So I
guess I made a decision,” he laughs
He's sad, however, about the passing
of his days of summer romance, but
takes a philosophical attitude "When
the sun comes out and the shorts go on,
things start looking attractive again,” he
laments, comforting himself with the
motto "just because you bet all your
money on one horse doesn't mean you
can't watch the race."
Sailing on the Prineville Reservoir last
summer brought Michelle together with
a old friend who eventually became her
fiance — and recently, her ex-fiance
She's not sulking, though The
promise of a new summer seems to
have piqued her optimism. "I'm a
romanticist," she says
She has fond memories of her very
first romance. It lasted a week She was
“15 or 16" though, she and her best
friend told some guys in Lincoln City
they were older The guy who became
her summer boyfriend has since passed
out of her life forever, but Michelle
thinks of him whenever she visits the
Lincoln beaches
Barbara is not so optimistic "I don’t
feel the summer will offer anything,’’ she
says New in Eugene after a stay in
Boston, she doesn’t seem to have
anyone in mind for a summer
encounter. Though she never had a
summer romance, she still wants one
Yet, for some students, the summer
holds no special romantic promise "A
summer romance would be fine if I had
the time," says Melissa, who is taking 15
hours of classes "School is more
preoccupying.”
But for other students, this summer
even threatens romance
Aaron's fiancee is off in Africa for the
summer and he's trying to keep his eye
from wandering. Ironically, some
hanky-panky last summer spurred his
present engagement, which came after
a SVi year relationship
“Knowing I could fall in love with
someone else conquered anxiety I had
had about becoming too dependent on
one person," he explains
Sally's new fiance just went to the
Midwest to look for work. It's tough to
be away from him, she says. "I’m
looking forward to school ending "
Then she’ll join him in the Midwest
Nevertheless, the summer means
something special to Sally She began
going out with her fiance two years ago
during a summer, so "in a way it was a
summer romance,” she says
And she had had a summer romance
before She was 15 and on vacation with
her family in Montana when she fell for a
17-year-old. "Looking back, I think he's
a creep," she laughs
By William Kogut
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Are YOU looking for that stepping stone to
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Do YOU need some experience to brighten
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Maybe we can help.
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the DEPRESSION RESEARCH UNIT for the
summer and next year.
We are looking for qualified work study people,
people who want research credit, or volunteers.
TO APPLY CALL THE PYCHOLOGY DEPT AT
686-4966. Start at $4.29
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