80's? gag me with a spoon.

Apparently the 80's were cool.

So guess what guys, I actually lived it.  I know, right?!  Ah, I'm old.

Anyway, I'm not sure "cool" would necessarily be the first word I would use to describe that time period.

I mean, let's be real here - the 80's brought us the mullet.  And the Dorothy Hamill bob.  And damn that Farrah Fawcett feathered hair that I could never get quite right.  The image of her perfect hair poster hanging on my boyfriend's bedroom wall in mockery still haunts me.  Wait... that may have been Christie Brinkley... no, Heather Locklear!  Come to think of it, I'm pretty sure he had all three posters, that dog...  Because I couldn't ever manage the perfect feathered look, I may have actually worn a scrunchy and side pony tail, but there is no real proof of that.

Anyway.  The 80's.  I was there for all of it.  I turned 20 in 1990, so every teenage year of mine was spent in that crazy iconic decade.

We had John Hughes.  Duckie, John Cusack and Molly Ringwald. Breakfast Club, Heathers, Better Off Dead, Say Anything, Princess Bride, Fletch, Ferris Beuller and Back to the Future.  There is just no denying that a ton of fantastic movies came from the 80's.

We had the original Cabbage Patch Dolls and Care Bears, Strawberry Shortcake and Star Wars action figures.  I could not ever solve a Rubik's Cube without cheating.  I still can't.

I knew what "Wonder-Twin powers, activate!" meant.  Among other things, I watched Tom and Jerry, The Jetsons, The Flinstone's and Smurfs on Saturday mornings.  Crammed around a 13" black and white TV with my three sisters.  With no remote control, Cod forbid.

During that time, I heard or possibly uttered such things as: "Bag your face," "Gag me with a spoon," "Totally bitchin'!" "Hoser," "Take a chill pill," "Sike!" (psych) "Most excellent," and "Dude." And insulted people by calling them "Spaz," "Nerd," "Butthead," "Airhead," or "Dweeb."

I played PacMan, Atari games, Donkey Kong and Galaga with gusto.  I'll still kick your ass, don't even try me.

I could immediately identify the melodies to "Total Eclipse of the Heart," "Time after Time," "Comfortably Numb," "Like a Virgin," "Sweet Child of Mine," "Sunday, Bloody Sunday," and oh so many more tunes.

I saved my money for candy like Zotz or grape HubbaBubba, and most definitely Fun Dip and Nerds.

I grew up watching The Cosby Show, The Wonder Years, The Facts of Life, and Family Ties.  Of course Alf, The A-Team and Magnum PI too. 

I tight rolled my jeans, unfortunately witnessed JAMS and parachute pants, wore knickers, stirrup pants and leg warmers, short fringed boots, Jordache jeans and Benetton sweaters (not at the same time).  I may or may not have worn high waisted and acid wash jeans, Doc Martens and penny loafers (again, not at the same time).  I had several colors of high-top leather Reebok's and I absolutely rocked the red & white Coca Cola rugby shirt with the rubber buttons.  But the shoulder pads... oh the shoulder pads were bad.

I had the biggest crushes on John Cusack, Michael J Fox, Corey Haim and Matt Dillon.  (all about my 80's teen crushes)  I loved Jon Cryer, River Phoenix and Christian Slater.

We had Jean Naté, Obsession and Love's Baby soft perfume.  Any guy who was hot wore Polo or Drakkar.  Go ahead and walk by me with green Polo on right now, and I will more than likely melt at your feet in a puddle of nostalgia.

I definitely wore a Swatch watch, and also made friendship bracelets and those little safety pin friendship things for your sneakers.  And those shoelaces with prints - like hearts or frogs on them.  There were huge neon earrings, and of course the bangle and multiple jelly bracelets going up your arms.  The lace gloves and brooches a la Madonna... I never wore those.

I listened to U2 and the Cure, Psychedelic Furs, Echo and the Bunnymen, Grateful Dead and Rush, the Sex Pistols, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Duran Duran, Depeche Mode and Guns and Roses. David Bowie, Rolling Stones and The Beatles... and Prince!  Michael Jackson!  Madonna!

You know, come to think of it, "cool" would definitely be one of the first words I would use to describe the 80's.  Thinking back to all of this stuff that surrounded me during a time period in my life where I was actually growing up, I can't say that it was bad at all.  In fact, I wouldn't mind going back.  For a day.  As long as I could rock my young skin and bod, I'd be all over it.

And the Farrah Fawcett feathered hair.  Yeah.  Definitely the Farrah Fawcett feathered hair.