I was thinking about this after a post in another thread. We all have something that connects us to the 80s to have us reminiscing on a regular basis (like by listening to this station).
So, why the 80s? For me, it reminds me of the times my mom and I spent together. It was only a few years that it was just me and my mom, and I know how much she struggled to make it, but I think I learned the most during that time.
A little bio on why this is important to me: I was an accident. My mom had me when she was 17, and my parents got married as soon as she was skinny again. They should've never married, they're just not right for each other. I can remember them fighting. They never had all out screaming matches (at least not in front of me that I remember), but there was always tension. I remember one time my mom locked the dead bolt and chain on the door so my dad couldn't get back into the apartment, and I wanted to help, so I pushed a cardboard box of toys up against it. I still feel guilty about it, but I know at the time I just wanted to help my mom and didn't really realize what that meant. So, my parents got divorced when I was 5. She dated a few guys, few of which I liked, but I think they just weren't very likeable guys. Then, she dated my stepfather and eventually moved in with him and married him. I liked him at first until we moved in with him. To this day, I do not agree with his parenting techniques, but I don't think he was ready to be a father. I still have some resentment for him, but I like him more now than I did then.
And don't get me wrong, I love my father dearly, and he did what he could to be around and be a good dad. But, the period when it was just me and my mom was really the happiest point in my childhood, and I think that's why I'm a little stuck in the 80s.
(Wow, that was longer than I expected!) So, anyone else? Do you associate your first love, when you got married, when you got your first car, or something similar to an 80s or the 80s in general?
For me, I am truly a child of the 80's, All of the do you remember the 80's everything. That was me. I guess when you are older you realize being a kid wasn't so bad after all. Your first true love. New music, doing things for the first time in your life. It was so fresh back then. Now everything is been there done that. The 80's was just when it all happened for me.
__________________
Sometimes, when i'm lonely... i crawl into a laundry basket and tickle my ears. But, Some times I don't...
You know MZ, my parents are very similar. They didn't fight much, but they are SO different that they never should have gotten married. They have nothing in common, do nothing with each other, and now that they are in their 50's it's really kind of sad. I don't doubt they love each other, and I certainly love them both, but it's obvious these two people simply don't belong together.
Anyway, I could never put a finger on what I love about the 80's, or why they're important to me, other than to say I guess they represent the last decade of a simpler time. No bills, nothing to worry about other than my grades and what I was going to do after school with my friends.
I don't think there's a single 80's song that doesn't have a distinct memory for me, even when it's as simple as remembering where I was one time when I was listening to it. When I listen to the music from the decade it's like a constant photo-album in my head.
I also firmly believe the 80's were the last decade of any sort of innocence.
Ditto what Sparky said but I'm more 70's. Everyone remembers that time of their life no matter the decade. In the 70's we had Happy Days reliving the 50's and today you have That 70's show. It's all about reminising...hopefully about all the good times. I think it's about coming of age. A time of firsts in your life. A time of changing from that tadpole and becoming a frog.
First of all Mz, God doesn't make accidents! When I first read that I thought you said you were in an accident. Then I reread it and I felt so bad that you have thought that about yourself your whole life. I think you were put here for a reason. You are certainly in the forum for a reason. (and it's not the madlibs thread - where is that anyway?) We all add a certain chemistry to the community and that's why it works.
Anyway to answer your question, I've moved a few times in my life. I lived in OH until I was 8. I think that's when life was the simplest for me. I had close friends. I went to Catholic school and didn't know all these words that I learned once we moved to IL and I started public school. People just seemed kinder at that age and my community was nice. There was no keeping up with the Jones' or that kind of thing. So the 80's does remind me of that. I agree w/ Riggs - there is sometimes a picture memory that goes w/ certain songs -the later ones. And I agree the 80's were a time of innocence.
I can relate Mz, I think the 80's were a tough time for a lot of kids, the 80's is when divorce became the norm. I was born in 73 which made me live the 80's through my formative years (7-17).
The 80's were the worst decade of my life (so far... i'm only 32). It was a decade of death, divorce, and other terrible tradgedies. One being my mother in the process of gettting a divorce from my father was in a terrible car accident that changed my entire family forever. She was in a coma for 6 months at Yale New Haven Hospital, then in Gaylord Rehab for another year and half. (she suffered tramatic brain injury). My family did not survive this challenge and was destroyed.
MTV became my escape. Music my god. For a lapsed Catholic, it could have been worse.... could have been some sort of evil cult. (ha ha)
But seriously, the only thing I want to remember about the 80's is the music.
Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with myself or the fact that I was an accident. Stuff happens, and I can live with that. And I know I'm not the reason for my parent's divorce. But I do know that I was conceived in the back of a car, and a condom broke. Like I said, big deal, stuff happens, and I'm glad my mom handled it like she did. If things didn't happen that way, I wouldn't have the loving family I do now. I don't resent it, but it is a fact of life. And I'm glad I got that time that I did with my mom. I feel like she's more of a sister to me than a mom, and I like it that way.
For me it's the 80's because that was the critical age of adolecence. I hit high school in '80 and graduated college in '89. I think we all grab and hold on the age that was going when we are in that bracket. It's the time for self discovery and self expression. We are all full of potential and dreams and haven't smacked the world in the face yet.
When I hear 80's music now, it takes me back to when I was convinced I could conquer the world by sheer will, and it helps me remember the dreams that fueled me. My first loves, good friends, first critical and necessary smacks on the jaw, all of it! The reality of life has re-shaped my approach and I've had to tailor my expectations, but I always make sure that I keep the old dreams in mind and still use them for inspiration. I've also made the very obvious change in life of following the God who was in power in the 70's, 80's, 90's, and now the 00's, and will still be on top forever! For all who have had to deal with splintered earthly families, you have my prayers. There is a family waiting for you, it's eternal, it's strong, it's loving, and Dad is way cool!
You mean the Young Good Looking Hawaiin shirt wearing- danceing- drinking- partying- "hooking up " without fear of dyeing -world not to bad 80's ? Why would I want to relive all of that? I'd much rather be old , falling apart , single more often than not and now that I'm home more, I get to watch the world going to heck in a hand basket, yep, happy , happy, happy.....
