Ask Me About Alchemy! discussion

I was born in 1970, so the 80's coincided perfectly with my double digit and teen years. I spent the first few years of the decade waiting anxiously for Twisted Sister videos on MTV, riding my bike, collecting Pac-Man cards from the ice cream man, and peeling stickers off my Rubik's Cube to "solve" it. By the mid 80's, I was rocking the mullet and white jeans look, trying my best to get the attention of girls and then running away petrified when I did. I spent the late 80's wearing those ever so fashionable wrestler pants and completing Basic Training at Fort Benning, GA.

Ha! I was in high school in the early 80s--graduated in 84. As a sufferer of FOMS (fear of missing something) I did everything I should--sports, student counsel, good grades... and everything I shouldn't... lots of parties, bad boy obsessions... I was a sophomore in high school when MTV began and consider Purple Rain and Breakfast Club my big movies (my freshman dorm used to line up and do The Bird in the hall. My hometown was all metal, all the time, but I moved to Oregon for college and decided asymmetic hair, dyed black, was more me...

I was being born, learning how to walk, talk, and read. My earliest memories are from 1985, when I turned 5 and my brother was born. Nevertheless, I love the 80s because I'm one of those people who believe you need to learn about what was going on during your formative years to understand where you come from, what makes you who you are. Yes, what everybody seems to remember from back then is glam rock, maybe some pretty good sci-fi movies about what the 2000s would be like. However, in my case there was also a 20-year military coup coming to an end in Brazil, the country I come from. So maybe I lied; my earliest memory is from 1984 when my parents popped some champagne to celebrate the end of the dictatorship era. They don't drink at all, though... Come to think of it, that may have been the same night they placed an order at the Stork Store so that my brother would be delivered the first week of January the following year.

Hart wrote: "Ha! I was in high school in the early 80s--graduated in 84. As a sufferer of FOMS (fear of missing something) I did everything I should--sports, student counsel, good grades... and everything I sh..."

Hart, you're older than me? Not by much, but still, from your blog pics and stuff, I thought you were in your early 30's. And while I have NEVER actually done The Bird, The Time's "Ice Cream Castles" is still in heavy rotation in my iPod

Rafa wrote: "I was being born, learning how to walk, talk, and read. My earliest memories are from 1985, when I turned 5 and my brother was born. Nevertheless, I love the 80s because I'm one of those people who..."

Rafa, "placing an order at the Stork Store" is my new favorite euphemism for sex. Remind me to tell you one day about my old favorite...

Well I was born in 1964 in the UK so my memories are slightly different from the US.

My main memories are of Kraftwork, Depeche Mode, electronic music, lots of hair backcombed, and looking a bit Madonna like but not really pulling it off.

Moving onto a rockabilly stage, NO NOT Billy Idol ! But The Cramps, well more into the indie scene...I missed the original one in the 70's... and went for 'real weird' as which was when I met my totally unrebellious, military husband!

Sharon wrote: "Well I was born in 1964 in the UK so my memories are slightly different from the US.

My main memories are of Kraftwork, Depeche Mode, electronic music, lots of hair backcombed, and looking a bit ..."

What about The Smiths? I never really even listened to them until last year, after several songs were featured in a cute movie, (500) Days of Summer, and I like them, but can't get a handle on if they were SERIOUS, and if so, were they taken seriously, or were they just like a boy band?

Well, I am a "bit" older than everyone. Since my pre-teen and teen years were in the 60's, I have tended to romaticize that decade. But, being asked to think about the 80's has made me realize that I experienced a lot of turning points during that time. I got married, moved to North Carolina, bought my first house, changed careers and I guess, just started a whole new life. So, all in all pretty good memories!

Mike wrote: "Sharon wrote: "Well I was born in 1964 in the UK so my memories are slightly different from the US.

My main memories are of Kraftwork, Depeche Mode, electronic music, lots of hair backcombed, and..."

Apols for late reply been busy...holiday stuff you know how it goes LOL ... yep The Smiths how could I gave forgotten them, I loved The Smiths big time ! Well they definitely weren't a boy band. They were popular with a wide audience ranging from the indie scene thru to the university students ect. Not taken seriously at all although Morrissey was/is a law unto himself so who can tell. Each to their own. But yep The Smiths in my scene were 'huge' and I just loved them, thanks for the reminder. Don't know that film though, any good?

Maggie wrote: "Well, I am a "bit" older than everyone. Since my pre-teen and teen years were in the 60's, I have tended to romaticize that decade. But, being asked to think about the 80's has made me realize th..."

Maggie, you don't have to admit it, but you would have been right in the age range for Joan Collins "Dynasty"-style shoulder pads!

Right on, Mike! But Joan Collins has a few years on me. :)