twosocialgraces's Blog

No, I am not talking about the elusive commodity that the Eagles occasionally lack under the quarterbacking of Donavan McNabb. Nor am I talking about the hazardous attempts at expeditious vehicular travel on the Schuylkill Expressway. I refer to something much more fun: a fantasy game that we play, usually after a cosmo or 2, deciding who would be our one “pass” if given the opportunity to have a romantic interlude with total immunity.

My pass is pretty much always Hugh Grant. I think he is lovely. He is funny (which at this point in my life is at least as important as any other feature). He is British--love the accent! He has my taste in movies. Although I just recalled that he was arrested last year for hurling a bean can at a photographer. Certainly not a Grace move, and possibly enough to get him stricken from the top of my pass list, alas. My husband always picks JLo--though her recent pregnancy may temporarily change that. The point is, of course, that the person be a remote and reasonably unattainable conquest. I also instill the “no necrophilia” rule. I like living passes.

We had an unfortunate experience with this game at a dinner party recently. We gave a cursory description of the idea and started with the gent to the hostess’ left. He obviously had not comprehended the guidelines, for he blurted out, “My pass would be Pam from the copy room!” as the rest of us cringed. His poor wife. They did not stay for dessert.

The thing is, crushes exist, even in the most extreme cases of marital bliss. Acting on them is, naturally, something the Graces would not recommend, but that is a topic for another day. People can even have chaste crushes. Maybe you don’t want to use them as your “pass”, but you might like to have dinner with them (or a power lunch), spend a day at the shore, an evening at the theatre, a hike in the Wissahickon or afternoon at the ballpark. So we asked some our favorite Graces about their Philly crushes, (chaste and otherwise) and here are their anonymous and very diverse reactions:

“Chase Utley—oh, so handsome, and what stats—he’s a “score” in my book.”

“Will Smith—do you need an explanation?”

“Maria Bello—did you see her cheerleader scene in ‘A History of Violence?’ Hold on, I need a moment.”

“Paul Levy—how can you resist the brilliant competence exuding from someone who virtually resurrected Center City?”

“Jevon Kearse—I don’t want to talk to him, I just want to sleep with him.”

"Lisa Nutter--looks, brains, and the keys to the city."

"John Bolaris--he's back and better than ever. He can come 'storming into my room' any time!"

“Jeff Coon—he is in every local theatre production—he is talented, adorable, and he’s an actor, so he could be anyone you want him to be.”

“Jose Garces—Looks and cooks, dark and handsome—now there’s a combo!”

We certainly have a variety. As they say in South Philly, “That’s why they make chocolate and vanilla, Hon.”