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Reminiscing with Anita and Elizabeth at work this morning, about the 80’s. Thank you ladies, for making me laugh so hard I had tea coming out of my nose! This one’s for you.
I have never felt old even at 42. I always said I am repeating 21 over and over, until two of my colleagues took me for a walk down the '80s memory lane. I may not be a fossil, but I definitely am a classic.
My son says living in this current decade is the best. Access to information is at ones’ fingertips, technology advancements daily, PS4, Smart TV’s, iPads; we can communicate with anyone, anytime, anywhere in the world. He looks at me stunned when I mention my yester years.
Even though every generation thinks their decade is the best ever, I still maintain there was something special about the 80s; it was full of life and new adventures. It pulsed with life.
Who remembers Ms. Scarlett from Cluedo? That vixen was everyone’s choice of a bad girl; she was sneaky and a floozy with a slim cigarette in her hand. Playing board games on a Saturday afternoon was the best family time. It brought us together.
Today our children are in their rooms playing PS4 online with Pedro in Mexico. The only family time we are together as a family is at the dinner table.
Watching TV was an event; the entire family got together to do this. There was no such thing as a couch potato; you had to actually move to change the channel or adjust the reception, helping one to circulate the blood. There was no fight for the remote.
Your childhood friends were bound to you for life with an exchange of handmade friendship bracelets.
My Dance/ Singing Career started on the Fame soundtrack. We had LP’s, Singles and Cassettes.
Luckily for everyone, my singing career ended before it began. I could sing the entire theme song to "Gummi Bears”. I still can, do you want to hear it?
I also knew all the words to “We Are the World”.
Michael Jackson’s posters (not the creepy white guy with no nose but the original MJ) was on my cupboard doors; I also had Whitney Houston when she was in her prime.
Music wasn't vulgar. Artists didn’t sing about “sexing you up”, and they didn’t hold their crotch. Okay, maybe MJ did, but we know why. Songs meant something. Rick Astley and Michael Bolton sang to every teenager.
Legwarmers were worn even if you weren’t dancing or gyming. Two words: shoulder pads. I recall my sister’s dresses having really large ones, not to mention the matching fabric shoes which coordinated with their dress colour.
Fingerless gloves made me feel like a rebel, and stone-washed jeans were ultra-cool. The spiral perm look was “so hot”. Headbands and side pony’s were in.
I was an 80’s fashionista. My denim jacket outweighed me. It was studded and it had different buttons; as one would say today, it was blinged to death.
I recall nagging my mother for a brown leather jacket as well; I had to work several weekends at a local clothing store to get that jacket.
I wanted to look like Whitney Houston in her music video. It was my bold fashion statement, the cut jeans with a white tee and boots. I then moved on to the Madonna look; then the punk rock chic, with the ra-ra and bubble skirt.
This was the black stage and my mother didn’t like any of these stages.
Wearing biker shorts under one’s skirt was sexy. Wearing fluorescent neon clothing didn’t raise an eyebrow even if it was from head to toe. Who remembers Jelly shoes? I had them in different colours.
We had Atari video games, and yes, it took a cartridge. And we needed another human to make it exciting. And if your parents couldn’t buy you an Attari 2600, you could go to the friendly café down the street and play Arcade games like Donkey Kong, Pac-Man, and Super Mario Brothers.
Those with the highest scores were encouraged to post their number on the game, thus earning a certain "street cred" in their neighbourhood. We actually got excited to see that our high score could not be dethroned.
Movies had a sense of innocence. I fell head over heels in love with Patrick in “Dirty Dancing”, (which is so not dirty by today's standards,) but every girl I know had the hots for him and wanted to be “Baby in a corner” somewhere.
I know the profound meaning of “Wax on, wax off!” Ralph Macchio, ahhh! I thought She-ra (Princess of Power!) and He-Man should hook up, and no one thought Magnum PI’s moustache was too big.
Every boy wanted KITT as a car and MacGyver’s skills. Not to mention The A-Team’s antics. When the Dallas or Dynasty music echoed, we had to vacate the lounge and make way for the adults.
Yes, the 80’s may sound silly to you; life then was simple.
We had stronger family ties and bonds were closer. You think your life is technologically advanced now; family stays in your handset via BBM and Whatsapp. They keep in contact via the social networks.
You think your decade is so hot, happening and the best. Think again.
There was no such thing as global warming, or ozone deficiency in the 80’s. If there was, we were so busy living, we didn’t really care.
The air was somehow cleaner, unless you lived close to Chernobyl; there were also no worries about a water shortage, or toxins in the water supply.
Ask your kids in 30 years’ time what they think of your generation.
I guess we all got to move on, so I celebrate the awesomeness that was growing up in the 1980s while I buy hair dye for my wisdom highlights in 2014.
Check out Saffiya's blog and follow her on Twitter
Follow Women24 on Twitter and like us on Facebook
I have never felt old even at 42. I always said I am repeating 21 over and over, until two of my colleagues took me for a walk down the '80s memory lane. I may not be a fossil, but I definitely am a classic.
My son says living in this current decade is the best. Access to information is at ones’ fingertips, technology advancements daily, PS4, Smart TV’s, iPads; we can communicate with anyone, anytime, anywhere in the world. He looks at me stunned when I mention my yester years.
Even though every generation thinks their decade is the best ever, I still maintain there was something special about the 80s; it was full of life and new adventures. It pulsed with life.
Who remembers Ms. Scarlett from Cluedo? That vixen was everyone’s choice of a bad girl; she was sneaky and a floozy with a slim cigarette in her hand. Playing board games on a Saturday afternoon was the best family time. It brought us together.
Today our children are in their rooms playing PS4 online with Pedro in Mexico. The only family time we are together as a family is at the dinner table.
Watching TV was an event; the entire family got together to do this. There was no such thing as a couch potato; you had to actually move to change the channel or adjust the reception, helping one to circulate the blood. There was no fight for the remote.
Your childhood friends were bound to you for life with an exchange of handmade friendship bracelets.
My Dance/ Singing Career started on the Fame soundtrack. We had LP’s, Singles and Cassettes.
Luckily for everyone, my singing career ended before it began. I could sing the entire theme song to "Gummi Bears”. I still can, do you want to hear it?
I also knew all the words to “We Are the World”.
Michael Jackson’s posters (not the creepy white guy with no nose but the original MJ) was on my cupboard doors; I also had Whitney Houston when she was in her prime.
Music wasn't vulgar. Artists didn’t sing about “sexing you up”, and they didn’t hold their crotch. Okay, maybe MJ did, but we know why. Songs meant something. Rick Astley and Michael Bolton sang to every teenager.
Legwarmers were worn even if you weren’t dancing or gyming. Two words: shoulder pads. I recall my sister’s dresses having really large ones, not to mention the matching fabric shoes which coordinated with their dress colour.
Fingerless gloves made me feel like a rebel, and stone-washed jeans were ultra-cool. The spiral perm look was “so hot”. Headbands and side pony’s were in.
I was an 80’s fashionista. My denim jacket outweighed me. It was studded and it had different buttons; as one would say today, it was blinged to death.
I recall nagging my mother for a brown leather jacket as well; I had to work several weekends at a local clothing store to get that jacket.
I wanted to look like Whitney Houston in her music video. It was my bold fashion statement, the cut jeans with a white tee and boots. I then moved on to the Madonna look; then the punk rock chic, with the ra-ra and bubble skirt.
This was the black stage and my mother didn’t like any of these stages.
Wearing biker shorts under one’s skirt was sexy. Wearing fluorescent neon clothing didn’t raise an eyebrow even if it was from head to toe. Who remembers Jelly shoes? I had them in different colours.
We had Atari video games, and yes, it took a cartridge. And we needed another human to make it exciting. And if your parents couldn’t buy you an Attari 2600, you could go to the friendly café down the street and play Arcade games like Donkey Kong, Pac-Man, and Super Mario Brothers.
Those with the highest scores were encouraged to post their number on the game, thus earning a certain "street cred" in their neighbourhood. We actually got excited to see that our high score could not be dethroned.
Movies had a sense of innocence. I fell head over heels in love with Patrick in “Dirty Dancing”, (which is so not dirty by today's standards,) but every girl I know had the hots for him and wanted to be “Baby in a corner” somewhere.
I know the profound meaning of “Wax on, wax off!” Ralph Macchio, ahhh! I thought She-ra (Princess of Power!) and He-Man should hook up, and no one thought Magnum PI’s moustache was too big.
Every boy wanted KITT as a car and MacGyver’s skills. Not to mention The A-Team’s antics. When the Dallas or Dynasty music echoed, we had to vacate the lounge and make way for the adults.
Yes, the 80’s may sound silly to you; life then was simple.
We had stronger family ties and bonds were closer. You think your life is technologically advanced now; family stays in your handset via BBM and Whatsapp. They keep in contact via the social networks.
You think your decade is so hot, happening and the best. Think again.
There was no such thing as global warming, or ozone deficiency in the 80’s. If there was, we were so busy living, we didn’t really care.
The air was somehow cleaner, unless you lived close to Chernobyl; there were also no worries about a water shortage, or toxins in the water supply.
Ask your kids in 30 years’ time what they think of your generation.
I guess we all got to move on, so I celebrate the awesomeness that was growing up in the 1980s while I buy hair dye for my wisdom highlights in 2014.
Check out Saffiya's blog and follow her on Twitter
Follow Women24 on Twitter and like us on Facebook
