You Couldn't Ignore Me if You Tried

After reading You Couldn't Ignore Me If You Tried by Susannah Gora I started thinking a lot about my teenage years. Basically the book is about how certain movies in the 1980s, mainly led by John Hughes, shaped not only cinema but the culture of teens. It's true what Gora says about these movies. They actually did understand what it was like to be a teenager. I remember feeling that the first time I saw the Breakfast Club. Leaving I remember thinking that they really understood what it was like. It wasn't the least bit condescending or judgemental about teens. Up to that point movies didn't really get it. I suppose Hollywood can easily loose touch. Maybe it's something about living in a gilded cage...



But, I decided to take what Gora said in this book and look at my teenage self. Occasionally, I glance back. We all do. We look at the High School Year Books, the photos (some taken on those fast producing Polaroids!) and remember a time that is long past. Certain songs will bring back memories. Our past is all around us if we stop and take a minute out to listen. Anyway I went a little deeper. I read through some of my old diaries. I don't want to bore anyone with the details of my teenage angst. The main thread of my existence back then was the tide of emotions that left me ecstatic one day to nearly suicidal the next. Mainly it could all be reduced to one word. It's a word that all teenage girls know all to well...it's boys. How quickly I feel in and out of "love" back then. It was a tragedy to break up with someone. But, the next day (I mean this literally the next day in some instances) I was going on and on about some new boy that I fell for.



It was really exhausting to read. Boys that to this day I can't remember anything about other than what appears on the pages of these diaries. I try to remember what they looked like. I can't really. What I do remember are silly things like the kind of sweater my first boyfriend gave me for Christmas. (lime green/blue) or where I was the first time I threw up drinking wine coolers (okay this has nothing to do with boys) (Whispering Hills parking lot - New Years Eve maybe 1986?).



Anyway, I'm glad my life is not quite so dramatic. Maybe the reason that as you get older you start to level off on your emotions is your heart, literally can't take it!!!


originally posted on 09/06/10