July 29th 2010

It Was So Much Simpler Then

Laying in the bed, I can't sleep. I have plently on my mind and much to do so I imagine that is why I awoke from my slumber in the middle of the night.  My close friends and family know how much of a music lover I am.  Despite the disappointment of The Grammys I'm tuned into Sirius Satellite Radio.  They seem to be in a throwback mood on Heart & Soul playing TLC's Baby-Baby-Baby, circa 1992.

What were you doing in 1992 when it came to love?
For me, I was a sophomore in high school a stones throw from getting my drivers license.  A date for me probably consisted of my mom and dad driving my date and I to the movies or visiting the local Burger King for fries on a Friday after school.  TLC was probably in rotation in the portable CD player, which as I think about how big that device was I can't help but laugh as we all now tote MP3 players that fit in the palm of our hands.

Chatting it Up
Being a computer geek I recall being in some kind of elementary chat room back then.  My screen name or "handle" as we called them then was almondy. I was referring to my skin tone, but these days I'd think twice about that name since it could bring about some interesting assumptions.  I remember this guy sent me pictures in mail! I don't mean email. I mean snail mail.  He ended up looking nothing like what I thought he would and appeared older than 19 years old. These days there is no way in hell I'd send someone my home address after a few exchanges in a chat room.  I laugh at how simple it was and how much safer things were or seemed.

Had a Crush on You
I remember having a crush on my friend April's brother. (If he didn't know then, he knows now.)  I also had a crush on my friend Jadrien's brother Damien.  (chuckle)  As I write this I am glad I had no brother to have a friend tell me they were feeling 10 years later in life. I also had a crush on a good friend, Ricardo. But I think everyone, but him, knew that.

I sometimes wonder who had a crush on me.  I've heard rumors, but never confirmation.  If you could go back would you reveal your crush? I would. I have adopted a secure sense of "nothing to lose" in my adulthood.

Passing Notes
It's funny to go back and read some of the love notes or notes passed between friends as we loitered in the halls waiting for the bell to ring.  From the "Do you like me? Circle Yes or No." To the "Girl I can't believe she is wearing that!" commentary, these were our text messages.  The response came slower, but they were just as funny and abbreviations covered up inside jokes and secrets. 

One of my friends and I had the concept of "stables" early. We would identify the men in our "stables" by drawing lassos on the notes and writing the identified cuties in the circles.  Sounds utterly ridiculous now but still relevant as I can recall a conversation just this weekend where a female friend inquired about my "stables."

Simpler Times as a State of Mind
Things seemed so much simpler then, but isn't it like that with each generation?  I joined a friend and her son this weekend to attend an event. I remember when he was 10 years old and now he's about to finish high school.  I wonder what he'll reflect on at 30 when it comes to love and life.  I am sure his memories will be just as fond as mine and come with the relization that things can stay simple.  It's not age or time that complicate life. It's us. As they say...KISS - Keep it simple stupid.

On that note Hill Fam...I'm going to recall a slow dance at the Junior prom as I listen to R. Kelly's Bump N' Grind, circa 1994.