--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only thing I knew about pickups was…" description: "\"“The only thing I knew about pickups was this: growing up, I always inwardly mocked the couples I saw who drove around in them. The girl would be sitti..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d58/ree-drummond-818_friday-night_the-only-thing-i-knew-about-pickups-was_2683196.jpg" --- # The only thing I knew about pickups was this: growing up… ![“The only thing I knew about pickups was this: growing up, I always inwardly mocked the couples I saw who drove around in them. The girl would be sitting in the middle seat right next to the boy, and the boy’s right arm would be around her shoulders, and his left arm would be on the wheel. I’m not…” quote by Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d58/ree-drummond-818_friday-night_the-only-thing-i-knew-about-pickups-was_2683196.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d58/ree-drummond-818_friday-night_the-only-thing-i-knew-about-pickups-was_2683196.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d58/ree-drummond-818_friday-night_the-only-thing-i-knew-about-pickups-was_2683196.jpg) > ““The only thing I knew about pickups was this: growing up, I always inwardly mocked the couples I saw who drove around in them. The girl would be sitting in the middle seat right next to the boy, and the boy’s right arm would be around her shoulders, and his left arm would be on the wheel. I’m not sure why, but there was something about my golf course upbringing that had always caused me to recoil at this sight. Why is she sitting in the middle seat? I’d wonder. Why is it important that they press against each other as they drive down the road? Can’t they wait until they get home? I looked at it as a sign of weakness--something pitiable. They need to get a life may have even crossed my mind once or twice, as if their specific brand of public affection was somehow directly harming me. But that’s what happens to people who, by virtue of the geography of their childhood, are deprived of the opportunity to ride in pickup trucks. They become really, really judgmental about otherwise benign things. Still, every now and then, as Marlboro Man showed me the beauty of the country in his white Ford F250, I couldn’t help but wonder…had he been one of those boys in high school? I knew he’d had a serious girlfriend back in his teenage years. Julie. A beautiful girl and the love of his adolescent life, in the same way Kev had been mine. And I wondered: had Julie scooched over to the middle seat when Marlboro Man picked her up every Friday night? Had he hooked his right arm around her neck, and had she then reached her left hand up and clasped his right hand with hers? Had they then dragged Main in this position? Our hometowns had been only forty miles apart; maybe he’d brought her to my city to see a movie. Was it remotely possible I’d actually seen Marlboro Man and Julie riding around in his pickup, sitting side by side? Was it possible this man, this beautiful, miraculous, perfect man who’d dropped so magically into my life, had actually been one of the innocent recipients of my intolerant, shallow pickup-related condemnation? And if he had done it, was it something he’d merely grown out of? How come I wasn’t riding around in his middle seat? Was I supposed to initiate this? Was this expected of me? Because I probably should know early on. But wouldn’t he have gestured in that direction if he’d wanted me to move over and sit next to him? Maybe, just maybe, he’d liked those girls better than he liked me. Maybe they’d had a closeness that warranted their riding side by side in a pickup, a closeness that he and I just don’t share? Please don’t let that be the reason. I don’t like that reason. I had to ask him. I had to know.”” [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator reflects on how childhood environment shapes judgments about others’ expressions of affection, especially in pickup trucks, and wonders about the hidden intimacy behind such scenes. **In simple terms:** Childhood influences how we judge simple acts of affection. Key Takeaway Recognize and question your own biases. Themes judgment nostalgia social perception intimacy class Mood reflective nostalgic curious Type personal observational When to use this quote - driving with a partner - observing public displays of affection - reflecting on past experiences - considering alternative perspectives Key Concepts cultural conditioning identity formation symbolic meaning Questions to Reflect On - How does your upbringing affect your view of others? - Can you separate personal bias from observation? A Different Perspective The anecdote may romanticize a specific lifestyle, overlooking broader social contexts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Friday night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friday-night/) [Golf course](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/golf-course/) [High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/) [Left hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left-hand/) [Miles apart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miles-apart/) [Perfect man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect-man/) [Pickup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pickup/) [Pickup Closeness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pickup-closeness-1169839/) [Pickup Related](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pickup-related-2598607/) [Riding Pickup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/riding-pickup-1169843/) [Right hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-hand/) [Seat Marlboro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seat-marlboro-2598606/) [Side by side](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/side-by-side/) [Teenage years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teenage-years/) ## Related quotes > [“How come I wasn’t riding around in his middle seat? Was I supposed to initiate this? Was this expected of me? 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You must not do what everyone else does. Ever.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-strauss/a-pickup-artist-must-be-the-exception-to-the-rule-you-must-not-do/) [Neil Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-strauss/) > [You don't need a pickup line. Just glance at a woman from across the room. Glance - don't stare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-mccarthy/you-don-t-need-a-pickup-line-just-glance-at-a-woman-from-across-the/) [Jenny McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-mccarthy/) > [Some receivers are like sports cars: they have a lot of speed and flair. Me, I'm like an old pickup truck. I just bounce…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/some-receivers-are-like-sports-cars-they-have-a-lot-of-speed-and/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [Girl, you're like a pickup truck. It takes more than one load to get the job done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/girl-you-re-like-a-pickup-truck-it-takes-more-than-one-load-to-get/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When I'm at home or in the studio, I have a 1963 Martin. It's a D-28, and I love that guitar. I write on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-worsham/when-i-m-at-home-or-in-the-studio-i-have-a-1963-martin-it-s-a-d-28/) [Charlie Worsham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-worsham/) > [Best Pickup Line? Let's go eat, I'm paying!..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/best-pickup-line-let-s-go-eat-i-m-paying/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My pickup line is "slow down sugar, I'm a diabetic!"](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-brothers/my-pickup-line-is-slow-down-sugar-i-m-a-diabetic/) [Jonas Brothers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-brothers/) > [You know you're a redneck when your pickup breaks down and you fix it. On the front lawn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alec-straub/you-know-you-re-a-redneck-when-your-pickup-breaks-down-and-you-fix-it/) [Alec Straub](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alec-straub/) > [Pickup's washed and you just got paid, with any luck at all you might even get laid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-buffett/pickup-s-washed-and-you-just-got-paid-with-any-luck-at-all-you-might/) [Jimmy Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-buffett/) > [To be honest with you, girls didn't really start paying attention to me until after 'Clueless' came out. Then, all of a sudden, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-faison/to-be-honest-with-you-girls-didn-t-really-start-paying-attention-to/) [Donald Faison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-faison/) ## More by Ree Drummond > [“What else haven’t you told me?” I thought for a minute. “Actually, yes…there is,” I replied, pausing to consider my words carefully, “I eat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/what-else-haven-t-you-told-me-i-thought-for-a-minute-actually-yes/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [Butter, cream, and bacon. That's such a great foundation right there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/butter-cream-and-bacon-that-s-such-a-great-foundation-right-there/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“More and more, I began helping around the homestead. I learned to operate my John Deere mower so I could keep the yard around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/more-and-more-i-began-helping-around-the-homestead-i-learned-to/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“I walked proudly out of the church, the new wife of Marlboro Man. When we exited the same doors through which my dad and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/i-walked-proudly-out-of-the-church-the-new-wife-of-marlboro-man-when/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“When we arrived at the wedding at Marlboro Man’s grandparents’ house, I gasped. 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Could I ever be with a man who’d never, in his entire life, eaten sushi? Could I, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/at-times-the-differences-concerned-me-could-i-ever-be-with-a-man-who/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“You did not do my homework assignment for me,” he said, grabbing the collage again and looking it over. “I had insomnia,” I said.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/you-did-not-do-my-homework-assignment-for-me-he-said-grabbing-the/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“I couldn’t bear the thought of a ham sandwich. Imagining milk trickling down my esophagus almost sent me over the edge. Even the saltines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/i-couldn-t-bear-the-thought-of-a-ham-sandwich-imagining-milk/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“Marlboro Man picked me up the next evening, exactly one month before our wedding day. Our evening apart had made the heart grow fonder,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/marlboro-man-picked-me-up-the-next-evening-exactly-one-month-before/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“I’ll send the nurse in here in a minute, okay?” Waste of time , I thought. “Okay, but…do you think there’s anything we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/i-ll-send-the-nurse-in-here-in-a-minute-okay-waste-of-time-i-thought/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“How come I wasn’t riding around in his middle seat? Was I supposed to initiate this? Was this expected of me? Because I probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/how-come-i-wasn-t-riding-around-in-his-middle-seat-was-i-supposed-to/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“I’ll see you in the morning. Oh, and hey…if I don’t answer the door right away it probably means I’m doing some weight training…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/i-ll-see-you-in-the-morning-oh-and-hey-if-i-don-t-answer-the-door/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“Minutes later, we were back at the sliding glass door that led inside the house--me, leaning against the glass, Marlboro Man anchoring me there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/minutes-later-we-were-back-at-the-sliding-glass-door-that-led-inside/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) [Explore all 361 Ree Drummond quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) ## More Friday night quotes > [“The universe contains any amount of horrible ways to be woken up, such as the noise of the mob breaking down the front door,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-universe-contains-any-amount-of-horrible-ways-to-be-woken-up-such/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [I'm not a person who would get up at 5 A.M. to write, but I could sacrifice my Friday night and just order in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-weisberger/i-m-not-a-person-who-would-get-up-at-5-a-m-to-write-but-i-could/) [Lauren Weisberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-weisberger/) > [The Friday Night Knitting Club](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-jacobs/the-friday-night-knitting-club/) [Kate Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-jacobs/) > [“My Dear Mrs Winter. 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The girl would be sitting in the middle seat right next to the boy, and the boy’s right arm would be around her shoulders, and his left arm would be on the wheel. I’m not sure why, but there was something about my golf course upbringing that had always caused me to recoil at this sight. Why is she sitting in the middle seat? I’d wonder. Why is it important that they press against each other as they drive down the road? Can’t they wait until they get home? I looked at it as a sign of weakness--something pitiable. They need to get a life may have even crossed my mind once or twice, as if their specific brand of public affection was somehow directly harming me. But that’s what happens to people who, by virtue of the geography of their childhood, are deprived of the opportunity to ride in pickup trucks. They become really, really judgmental about otherwise benign things. Still, every now and then, as Marlboro Man showed me the beauty of the country in his white Ford F250, I couldn’t help but wonder…had he been one of those boys in high school? I knew he’d had a serious girlfriend back in his teenage years. Julie. A beautiful girl and the love of his adolescent life, in the same way Kev had been mine. And I wondered: had Julie scooched over to the middle seat when Marlboro Man picked her up every Friday night? Had he hooked his right arm around her neck, and had she then reached her left hand up and clasped his right hand with hers? Had they then dragged Main in this position? Our hometowns had been only forty miles apart; maybe he’d brought her to my city to see a movie. Was it remotely possible I’d actually seen Marlboro Man and Julie riding around in his pickup, sitting side by side? Was it possible this man, this beautiful, miraculous, perfect man who’d dropped so magically into my life, had actually been one of the innocent recipients of my intolerant, shallow pickup-related condemnation? And if he had done it, was it something he’d merely grown out of? How come I wasn’t riding around in his middle seat? Was I supposed to initiate this? Was this expected of me? Because I probably should know early on. But wouldn’t he have gestured in that direction if he’d wanted me to move over and sit next to him? Maybe, just maybe, he’d liked those girls better than he liked me. Maybe they’d had a closeness that warranted their riding side by side in a pickup, a closeness that he and I just don’t share? Please don’t let that be the reason. I don’t like that reason. I had to ask him. I had to know.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ree Drummond" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/the-only-thing-i-knew-about-pickups-was-this-growing-up-i-always/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Friday night" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/the-only-thing-i-knew-about-pickups-was-this-growing-up-i-always/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d58/ree-drummond-818_friday-night_the-only-thing-i-knew-about-pickups-was_2683196.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d58/ree-drummond-818_friday-night_the-only-thing-i-knew-about-pickups-was_2683196.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d58/ree-drummond-818_friday-night_the-only-thing-i-knew-about-pickups-was_2683196.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The only thing I knew about pickups was this: growing up, I always inwardly mocked the couples I saw who…” — Ree Drummond", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ree Drummond", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The only thing I knew about...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/the-only-thing-i-knew-about-pickups-was-this-growing-up-i-always/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/the-only-thing-i-knew-about-pickups-was-this-growing-up-i-always/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```