Back in My Day

September Writing Challenge - Prompt #18:

Back in My Day

I stumbled across a graphic on Pinterest called, "Questions to Ask Old People," and thought it went well with today's prompt. In some ways, I am definitely "old people," but in other ways, I'm not. This prompt suited my pending elderliness. 

1. What was the biggest news story you remember from your youth?

Columbine and 9/11 both happened when I was in high school, and both of those events were huge and devastating. 

2. How did you spend your summers as a child?

I just stayed at home and watched my brothers.

3. How did your family celebrate holidays when you were growing up?

We usually had parties with extended family for Easter and Christmas. I had a step-dad that would pout and pick fights with everyone on holidays, so that has pretty much scarred me for life and given me weird holiday PTSD. 

4. What invention or modern technology has impressed you the most?

I'd have to say phones. In my lifetime, I've seen phones go from being a wall unit with a cord to being a tiny computer in the palm of my hand that controls my entire life. I've seen every size cell phone. And in addition to phones themselves, I was around for advances like answering machines, pagers, car phones (my grandpa had one - it was the weirdest, most frivolous thing), and caller ID. I remember my fourth grade teacher, who was kind of a computer nerd, telling us about caller ID, which was just starting to hit the scene, and I was like, "No way! There is no way a little box can tell you who's calling!" It just sounded so absurd and impossible! Can you believe that we used to just answer a phone without even knowing who's calling?  

5. How did you and your friends have fun when you were growing up?

We made the most embarrassing home videos. We are so lucky that social media didn’t exist and that all of our mortifying videos are safely stowed away on VHS and 8 mm tapes.

6. What advice would you give younger generations today?

None. Because they won’t listen anyway. Just like how I wouldn’t listen to anyone’s advice when I was young (and kind of still won’t). 

7. Did you travel when you were younger?

Not extravagantly. We mostly went camping, but I was able to go to Disneyland and Yellowstone once or twice. 

8. Did you ever break a bone or have an injury as a child?

No (and I almost dare not say it!) I got hit by a car when I was 15, though. I was okay - just a bit or road rash, but my bike (that I bought the day before) was totaled.

9.What was your favorite song or band when you were a teenager?

The 1996 Grammy award nominees compilation CD was everything to me!

I dedicated the song “One Sweet Day” to my dead dog, Kennedy, who was named after Blossom’s step-sister in the TV show Blossom. Is there anything more 90’s than all that?

I’m going to pause this post right now and go listen to it. 

10. What was your favorite holiday and why?

I liked most holidays the same amount. 

11. How did you stay informed about world events when you were younger?

TV news, newspaper, and word of mouth.

12. What sports or activities did you enjoy when you were younger?

I loved basketball and volleyball and wanted to play on teams so bad, but I never knew how to get involved in sports, and I never dared to try out for any school teams. So I just danced. I also really loved singing and would have loved to play an instrument, but again, I just didn’t know how to get involved. I still don’t really know how to be involved in those sorts of things. 

13. What's one thing you would tell your younger self?

Again, nothing. Because that girl won’t listen. This I know.