Depicted as ‘the lovable loser’, too melancholic and uncertain for his age and accompanied by his stubborn dog Snoopy, Charlie Brown is a favorite character of both children and grownups. When once asked by his friend Peppermint Patty what he think what love is, he answered:
- Well, years ago, my dad owned a black 1934, two-door sedan.
- What’s that got to do with love?
- Well, this is what he told me: there was this really cute girl, see? She used to go for rides with him in his car. And whenever he’d call for her, he would always hold open the car door for her. After she got in and he had closed the door, he’d walk around the back of the car to the driver’s side, but before he could get there, she would reach over and press the button, locking him out. Then she’d just sit there and wrinkle her nose and grin at him. That’s what I think love is.
This was a pretty unexpected answer for Patty, but what is interesting is that this story resembles another movie scene from the Bronx tale. It’s when the mafia boss Sonny gives advice to a kid about to go on his first date: ‘before you get outta the car, lock both doors. Then you open the door for her. Then you let her get in. Then you close the door. Then you walk around the back of the car and look through the rear window. If she doesn’t reach over and lift up that button so that you can get in, it’s a selfish broad. Dump her and dump her fast’.
It is hard to imagine a guy like Sunny confused in a moment in which he sees a girl in the car making grins and funny faces. Who knows, maybe he would laugh, change his opinion about gender relationships, got married and one day had a son like Charlie Brown! Anyhow, in order to save your head so the kick called love doesn’t spin it too much – caution is always recommended! And the best person to recommend it to you is Dean Martin with his Ain’t that a kick in the head. After Dean, don’t forget about Charlie Brown and the perfect dose of jazz by Vince Guaraldi!