Recently I discovered the Boomerang Channel, and found myself transported back in time to the simpler days of my youth. I watched with my daughters as the Hanna-Barbera star spiraled onto the screen and I felt positively giddy.
There they were! The Smurfs. The Snorks. The Pink Panther! Remembering it all so fondly, I was excited to introduce my own children to those classics.
I know it’s not the cartoons I love as much as what they represent to me. They call to mind a short version of me hopping off the school bus, running home and being greeted by the smell of dinner already filling the house, and most likely the after school snack of cookies - made with love, by Mom. There were no responsibilities except that of keeping my own room clean…ish. The days seemed so long but so full of…just…everything. I miss them.
Yes, I am a child of the 80’s, raised by the cathode ray tube. I had Pac Man Fever and “Atari thumb”. I remember too well that it was video that killed the radio star. I know how important it is to “keep them away from bright light, don’t get them wet and never feed them after midnight”.
I watched Courtney Cox long before she was Friends with anyone. I sported a jean jacket with a multitude of different inappropriate pins and wore fluorescent shoelaces. I owned a Swatch. I knew Tootie’s real name was Dorothy.
Yes, I could kick your butt at tetherball.
I was a Toys R Us kid who was stuck on Band-Aids. I was an Electric Company fan, who later watched Rita Moreno doing sitcom guest spots and half-expected her to shout “Hey, You GUYS!”
I wanted to be a DoubleMint Twin. I tried the New Coke, hated it, and subsequently danced for joy when they came out with Coke Classic. I owned clacker-balls and Weebles. I danced my cares away down at Fraggle Rock.
I’m glad to have a sort of window into Mommy’s past through these shows. I did have a pretty happy childhood and seeing them again reminds me of more simple pleasures that my kids will appreciate because although those days are gone, they are not forgotten.
One more thing -
Gee, your hair smells terrific, but I sunk your Battleship!
Deal with it.
