The 90s drama-comedy, The Wonder Years, has for a long time been one of my favorite shows, for a variety of reasons. One being that it is simply a good show. Also, I have always loved the way in which Kevin Arnold looked back on what he thought was the end of the world, and was able to see the lesson behind the experience. Another being that it captures and reflects on a very pivotal period in our American history; a time when civil rights, women's rights, and all around equal rights were coming to the forefront of American culture. It was also a time when our nation was very divided about wars, what we wanted as a country, and what we envision the future to be. In addition, I have always had a preoccupation with this period in history. As far back as my memory can stretch, I have been fascinated by the counter culture of the 60s, the music, the styles, television shows, politics, and anything else that you can name from that Era. With all that being said, I have always wondered what the Kevin Arnold inside of me might say if they were able to tell their coming of age story.
Recently, I have been on a mission, an albeit long and drawn out one, to clean out and organize my closets. Along the way, I have come across many boxes filled with memories (memories that are in need of a bit of re-organization). One of my most recent finds was my "Memory Book" from my Senior year of high school. Before I was able to crack open the cover I was a bit hesitant. I mean after all, I had no idea what was going to be behind that cover. I wasn't quit sure if I was ready to relive everything quit yet. However, I was soon able to muster open the courage and momentarily step back in time.
With every wisp of a finger across a page to turn it, another memory came flooding back to me. One of my gifts in life is that I am able to take a memory and almost transcend myself back in time (which has both been a strength and a downfall in my life). Its weird, but I can conjure up memories, songs, feelings, emotions, etc. just by getting lost in one single memory. And when I opened up this book, it was no different.
I was brought back to my senior year spring break with a dear friend of mine Elizabeth....oh what we didn't do in Key West! (And man, we thought we were the BOMB DOT COM then too) When I cam across some of our moments captured in time (AKA pictures) I suddenly felt sand between my toes mixed with a subtropical breeze. I thought of the nights we would stroll up and down the historic Duval St. in Key West with hopes that we'd get into a bar. We made it into a few bars....and if memory serves me correctly the only mixed drink we knew of at the time was a screwdriver. Now, that I'm a little older and a little bit more seasoned at going to bars, I'm willing to bet if you walked into most bars and ordered a screwdriver, they'd have to run out and pick up some OJ!
Then there was the memory of prom. It was sort of a mixed basket for me. My date was kinda of bleh....but who cares now right? But the after prom was the best. Because you know in high school there are always members of the opposite sex that you want to hang out with , but you're not really sure if they want to hang out with you, so you both play dumb when you're around each other? Yeah...well my senior prom as awful as it began, ended on a sweet note because that person of the opposite sex I wasn't sure of...yeah we got to hang out that night (and NO....it's not the after prom "hanging out" you may be thinking of). It was purely innocent. We both were at the prom with people we would have rather not been at the prom with and left with one another to go to the after party.
We also had our senior trip to Disney World sometime shortly before or after prom, I can't remember, time escapes me. To date, this was the only time in my life that I have been to Disney World, but I do hope to rectify that. But anyway, this trip was memorable for many reasons. One being, for most of us, it was our first trip without any parents which just seemed amazing at the time. Although we did have chaperones that kept a watchful eye on us, we were one our own as far as we were concerned. We had our own hotel rooms and went through the parks at our own leisure. To my 18 year old self, I was living the life of a grown up!
Oh, and let's not forget about my belly ring (Mom, if you're reading this, I'm sorry). So, my mom has always thought that I got my belly button pierced on spring break (how could I not get my belly button pierced? It was THE trend for late teens in the late 90s). However, that is not the case. One day after school I told my parents I was going to the lakefront (the premier hang out for high schoolers on the Northshore of New Orleans) to work on a project for my film and literature class. Now this was not entirely untrue. I did go to Java Grotto that day to do my project. However, when we were done, I was telling my friend how I wanted a belly ring. So, being the impulsive teenagers we were, we hopped in the car and drove the the RA Shop....and there it was....I had a belly ring!
Then there were just the random happenings with friends and places that seemed like the most important things on earth to me at the time. Things like going to coffee shops and drinking latte (thinking that they made us sophisticated). Sitting at the Lakefront for hours on end waiting to see who showed up and talk with friends and acquaintances alike. Getting ourselves in and out of trouble, and waiting to get that phone call to see what happened if you dared to miss a night there.
And of course when I looked at picture after picture, I was in awe of how I once looked and how carefree my life truely was. I couldn't help but think of and laugh at how back then, I though I was fat and ugly....average at best on a good day. What I didn't know then, is that a little over a decade later, I would long to squeeze into a size 4 just one more time.
There are many many memories...too many too share.....some too private to share. However, my best memory ( and best story) is about graduation. However, you'll have to tune back in for the story!
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