Forever 17

Yesterday was my birthday. I received a HUGE bonus birthday because I LOVE the Super Bowl and it was on my birthday this year. Yay me!  We have a huge shindig. Lots and lots and LOTS of people come to watch the game and I get to pretend that it's a birthday party for me! haha  Win! win!

As I was doing party preparations (I don't know why I clean the house before everyone comes, but I do) I had my IPod cranked and "Forever 17" by Tim McGraw came on.  I was belting the lyrics and thinking about "life". I just turned 49. That's a bit of a jump from 17 but man! I remember being 17.

I do enjoy the freedom that comes with age. I have my own style. I'm not tied in to trends that I can't afford. I know the importance of being kind, yet I know when it's time to stand up for myself or someone around me. And I am not afraid to do so.  I love MY music. I listen to country, 80's rock, pop, classical, any genre I am feeling when I am feeling it. Yeah, growing up has it's advantages.

However, there is nothing better than reminiscing. Mark was (and still is) my boyfriend. I named each stuffed animal on my bed. I enjoyed school and the friends and activities that went along with attending high school. I spent hours trying to figure out the Rubiks cube. How about parachute pants? LOVED them! I would set my tape recorder up by my radio and wait and wait and wait for my favorite song to start. Hear it. Tape it. Then I would play it over and over and over until I had every word down so I could sing along. Watched Diff' rent Strokes (What you talking about Willis?) Fantasy Island (Da plane, da plane!), and wished I could be Vicki on the Love Boat. I had a poster of E.T. in my room and I thought John Stamos was pretty hot.

More of the "real" stuff that happened. According to liketotally80s.com:

The advances in technology that began in previous years continue to gain speed in 1982 with the release of the Commodore 64 computer and the first CD player by Sony. The shift is so significant that Time Magazine names The Computer as the person of year in 1982. Other big news items include the opening of Epcot Center, the dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Tylenol scare, the death of John Belushi, and the birth of Prince William. It was a great year in movies with ET, Fast Times, the Wall all at the box office. Olivia Newton John had us getting physical and Joan Jett had us loving rock n roll. But, Michael Jackson ruled the music scene and the airwaves with Thriller, which became the best selling album of all in time. 1982 . . . we embrace you with Open Arms.

Ahhhhhhhhh...1982.