Bringing the Past to the Present with Back to the Future

I wonder how many of us have ever been in a relationship that felt like a ticking clock, a la the opening moments of the 80’s iconic Back to the Future, ready to go off like a bomb at any moment. I know what they say about what happens when you assume, yet here I am, assuming those relationships didn’t always feel that way. Over time, people change, as do relationships. It’s inevitable. But whether it’s for better or worse, that’s up to us.

In 1985, Marty McFly was a high school student with a knack for tardiness. The avid skateboarder also had a cute girlfriend, Jennifer Parker. I don’t recall the film mentions how long they’d been a couple, which brings me to assumption number two. It couldn’t have been that long, as after all, the young lovebirds were high school teens. The irony of this, however, is that those less experienced couples are often the same ones we should be trying to emulate when it comes to love: Marty and Jennifer, or in other words, our younger selves. Ahhh, yes, leave it to young love to truly show us The Power of Love. That’s such a good Back to the Future song. Let’s dig in a bit deeper now, as we take a closer look into what we can learn from Marty and Jennifer, shall we?

I hear the argument that it might be a tad misguided. But if we can look past the idea of helping a teen avoid a rightfully-deserved tardy, we might just find an uber-supportive girlfriend waiting on the other side of the first-hour bell. And so it was when Jennifer’s efforts to help Marty avoid the principal’s tardiness wrath was to no avail. The principal caught him anyway, and for Jennifer’s heroic efforts, she received a tardy slip of her own. Not long after that incident, Marty is seen with his band during a musical audition. Ultimately, the audition was a failed attempt for the budding guitarist. But guess who was there, cheering him on every step of the way? Jennifer. The uber-supportive girlfriend did it through deed, as well as word, when she uttered “if you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything.”

1. Jennifer showing us the way by supporting your significant other.

The woman clamoring to save the clock tower is quite memorable for a character with minimal lines and screen time. But nevertheless, she’s a key player in our second item of high school heartthrobs Jennifer and Marty showing us how it’s done. Outside, and during daylight no less, the woman interrupts an almost kiss between the couple. Seconds letter, the honking of Jennifer’s dad’s car interrupts the would-be-kiss once more. Though likely annoyed, as what boyfriend wouldn’t be, Jennifer makes sure they do get a kiss before hurrying off in the direction of her family car. I love it! Nothing should get in the way of showing affection to our significant other.

2. Loved how nothing got in the way, even the clock tower lady, of Jennifer and Marty's physical affection.

It’s not long before the Back to the Future tide shifts when Marty is thrust into life 30 years prior when helping his friend, the one and only scientist inventor Emmett “Doc” Brown with his Delorian time machine. During Marty’s experience in 1955, the teen boyfriend displays the power of words. The topic of his girlfriend comes up once Doc finally realizes it’s Marty from the future, when the scientist asks, “is she pretty?” Yet again, Marty’s epic response shows us another page we should take from the romantical playbook of young love when he replies, “Doc, she’s beautiful. She’s crazy about me. Look what she wrote here Doc. That says it all. Doc, you’re my only hope.” Of course, those legendary words “You’re my only hope” have become more synonymous with Jedi-talk in the Star Wars franchise than this Back to the Future dialogue. But whether we are a Jedi, inventor, high school student, or just plain us, we are the “only hope” in saving our relationships and remembering what they were like in a galaxy far far away.

3. Marty leading by example in talking highly of his girlfriend around the Doc.

Back to the Future becomes a literal race against time, as Marty tries to stave off extinction by ensuring his parents still fall in love. Speaking of irony once more, if we’re not careful, saving our relationships can often feel akin to a Hollywood race against time. And we don’t even have a flux capacitor, or as Doc stated, “what makes time travel possible.”

But we do have the ability to remember, which can often be the start to bringing back those former, happier years into our present-day relationships. Marty’s mom specifically has fond memories reminiscing about her first kiss with her husband and the start of their courtship at the Enchantment Under the Sea high school dance. Marty and Jennifer showed us three ways to bring back the past to our present-day love life by supporting your partner in their goals, ensuring nothing gets in the way of enjoying a little affectionate PDA (public display of affection), and speaking highly about our significant other.

Taking a trip down my own personal space continuum, also known as my not-so-glory days of Troy Athens High School, I recall girls proudly wearing the football jersey of their boyfriend on game day. Whether you played football or not (like me), dated in high school or not (like me), or are a woman or a man (like me), let’s remember to proudly wear our partner’s jersey on game day. And when it comes to romantic relationships, every day is game day.

Until next time, keep dating.

Brent