Ralph Coon and I were in his car (his dad’s car?) during what must have been the summer of 1988. I don’t remember where we were going, but I feel like we were heading down Western Avenue, so maybe mini golf. It was daylight, and we were just two high school buddies spending time together before going off to college. Maybe it was the following summer and we were catching back up. I really wish I could remember because it impacts how embarrassing the next part is (a little). 

The radio was playing, and then “Never Gonna Give You Up” came on. We started jamming out and singing it at the top of our lungs. No irony. Just two nerdy white boys (one of whom shared Rick’s red hair) belting out, and doing the white overbite dance moves from the video. 

I remember joy and freedom and friendship. Just two dudes bopping down the road with radio blasting out. 

This might be a complete misremembering of almost the same thing happening to “Lean on Me” by Club Nouveau. 

Either way, it made me really recognize myself in the scene from Wayne’s World when Garth & Wayne sang Bohemian Rhapsody.