Jill and Wendell Then
I was thinking about old flames and where they are now. Let’s see, I have had maybe 7 or 8 (serious to semi-serious) break ups in my life. I am thinking that means you went out with them for, say, more than 3 months. So, that doesn't count Robbie Naiman, who in 6th grade, asked me to go steady in the morning, then broke up with me after second recess. It seemed an eternity. That does not include my terrible crush (a year later) on my best friend Mary Gardner, who accidentally (or was it?) touched my breasts.
I had not done it yet. You would have never guessed. I considered myself a rather hip girl for my age. I had a fake ID, had smoked pot, and played in a glam rock band with older guys who had suspect English accents (they were from Denver). Yet, I think, I was the last of my girlfriends to go “all the way”-fourth base. I was starting college in a week and this seemed absurd and somewhat shameful.
Second day of my freshman year at Colorado University: I thought I would find the cutest guy in our dorm, make an advance, and get over that hump.
During our dorm floor orientation, this adorable, but sort of badass looking Hawaiian boy with dark aviators and surfing shorts, walked in.
I had not gone all the way yet with a boy, and thought... enough was enough. So, that night, after a party, I took him to an all night Denny’s for an English muffin, and the rest was history.
We lasted the rest of the year, but it was always pretty iffy. I was in my depressive anorectic phase, and he was the popular campus drug dealer. One of our more "romantic" moments was when I came home from class -- it was my birthday -- and he had the number 19 written in cocaine on the glass coffee table. So there are tons of Wendell Lees: a photographer, a wine dealer, a lawyer, but none seem to match.
Many years later: I spent an entire evening on the internets trying to find out what ever happened to Wendell. No luck. Not everyone has a personal vanity website, tweets, or does Facebook. After that, I started Googling other people from the past. This was not a complete waste of time as I ended up writing a song called…Wendell Lee.
The song has been out in the world (on California Years) for almost nine months. People have inquired if I have heard from Wendell.
Last week: I received an email from Wendell. He had not heard the song. I sent him the record (with a wooden dreidel –I have a ton of them left over from my holiday CD). He is, I think, honored to have a song with his name in the title. He was, however, curious about what the little wooden toy was all about. Just to let you know, he has fared better than the other exes in the song. He is still cute, has his hair, and a job.
He sent me a bunch of pictures that he took from our time together. I have not seen myself from that period in many a year. I forgot about my Loraine Newmanish perm. I forgot that despite the hairdo, I was actually kind of cute too. I never felt that way though. I was about to go into a full-blown eating disorder the following summer. Is youth wasted on the young? Nah, just let’s you reflect and write a good semi-depressing song. -- Jill Sobule
I had not done it yet. You would have never guessed. I considered myself a rather hip girl for my age. I had a fake ID, had smoked pot, and played in a glam rock band with older guys who had suspect English accents (they were from Denver). Yet, I think, I was the last of my girlfriends to go “all the way”-fourth base. I was starting college in a week and this seemed absurd and somewhat shameful.
Second day of my freshman year at Colorado University: I thought I would find the cutest guy in our dorm, make an advance, and get over that hump.
During our dorm floor orientation, this adorable, but sort of badass looking Hawaiian boy with dark aviators and surfing shorts, walked in.
I had not gone all the way yet with a boy, and thought... enough was enough. So, that night, after a party, I took him to an all night Denny’s for an English muffin, and the rest was history.
We lasted the rest of the year, but it was always pretty iffy. I was in my depressive anorectic phase, and he was the popular campus drug dealer. One of our more "romantic" moments was when I came home from class -- it was my birthday -- and he had the number 19 written in cocaine on the glass coffee table. So there are tons of Wendell Lees: a photographer, a wine dealer, a lawyer, but none seem to match.
Many years later: I spent an entire evening on the internets trying to find out what ever happened to Wendell. No luck. Not everyone has a personal vanity website, tweets, or does Facebook. After that, I started Googling other people from the past. This was not a complete waste of time as I ended up writing a song called…Wendell Lee.
The song has been out in the world (on California Years) for almost nine months. People have inquired if I have heard from Wendell.
Last week: I received an email from Wendell. He had not heard the song. I sent him the record (with a wooden dreidel –I have a ton of them left over from my holiday CD). He is, I think, honored to have a song with his name in the title. He was, however, curious about what the little wooden toy was all about. Just to let you know, he has fared better than the other exes in the song. He is still cute, has his hair, and a job.
He sent me a bunch of pictures that he took from our time together. I have not seen myself from that period in many a year. I forgot about my Loraine Newmanish perm. I forgot that despite the hairdo, I was actually kind of cute too. I never felt that way though. I was about to go into a full-blown eating disorder the following summer. Is youth wasted on the young? Nah, just let’s you reflect and write a good semi-depressing song. -- Jill Sobule
Jill and Wendell Today(Written by Jill Sobule, Robin Eaton)
Hey Wendell, where are you now?
I searched online, but nothing found
I wonder what you done and what you become
Wendell, you were the first for me
We were both stoned and seventeen
After our date at the Denny's, we got it on
We got it on
It didn't last too long
Hey Robin, I typed in your name
Nothing came up, so I'm afraid
I'll never know exactly why you broke up with me
But it turned out okay
Met someone else on that same day
Her name was Jenny and I wrote her that song
Didn't last too long
And the list goes on
These are some of the people that I (Some of the people)
I went out with
Before I met you
These are some of the people that I (Some of the people)
Thought would be the one
Oh
Oh Billy, my, how you changed
You lost your hair and gained that weight
I wonder if I
Look that bad too
Have you kept up with my career?
Do you still wish that you were near?
I hope that you regret
You fucked my best friend
Marilyn
Marilyn
These are some of the people that I (Some of the people)
I went out with
Before I met you
These are some of the people that I (Some of the people)
Thought would be the one
Oh
Hey Alex, now what do I do?
Went on Classmates and I found you
Do I pay extra for your address and phone?
No, I leave it alone
I got a new love in my life
I think that this one could be right
If not, I'll add another verse to this song
And the list goes on
These are some of the people that I (Some of the people)
I went out with
Before I met you
These are some of the people that I (Some of the people)
Thought would be the one
These are some of the people that I (Some of the people)
Thought would last and make me happy
These are some of the people that I (Some of the people)
Thought would be the one
Oh
Hey Wendell, where are you now?
Hey Wendell, where are you now?
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