Things just aren't the same...
Aug. 15th, 2010 10:44 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
apple_pathwaysOn my old journal, I would post a lot more content in the form of essays or musings on various topics; I'm trying to get back into that. So, I have composed a List of Things I Remember Fondly From Childhood That Just Aren't the Same As an Adult. Feel free to add your own!
1. Amusement Park Rides:
There is nothing more exciting and joyous for a child than filling up on sugar and spinning around for a while. As a child, I could not get enough of the Tilt-a-Whirl, the Merry-Go-Round, and those swings that rise up and down in the air and make you feel like you’re flying.
Now, I get nauseous on a regular old analog-style swing. What happened?
2. Marshmallows:
For a kid, marshmallows are the epic perfection of sugar treatments, and s’mores are the crème brûlée of childhood. It still seems like a great idea to me: roasting marshmallows look fantastic, and they smell even better! And I still enjoy the art of slow-toasting my mallow to perfection on a stick over a fire. But the moment I take a bite, I taste disappointment; that, and diabetes.
3. Cartoons:
When I was 3 years old (1985), She-Ra was my hero. One Halloween I dressed up as her. The costume only came with a mask, a sword, and some wrist cuffs, so my mom had to improvise the rest of my costume.
She put me in a pink tutu I’d inherited from a cousin that was a couple sizes too big. And since it’s Michigan, I had to wear a coat, as well.
I don’t care; I still looked rad. (My little brother was He-Man!)
I was disappointed to discover that the cartoon does not live up to my memories of it. Nor do most of the cartoons I watched as a kid. I remember them being exciting and cool; I watch them now and realize they’re boring and violent. (Hard to pull both of those off at the same time, but yeah.) Even the Smurfs are really lame on re-viewing.
4. Snow:
Ok, I still love snow…until Christmas is over. Then snow can just F off, as far as I’m concerned!
As a child? Powdered magic. As an adult? Driving nightmare and cute boots-ruining inconvenience.
5. Birthdays:
There’s something pathetic about people who make a big deal about their birthday after a certain age. I know people who throw a fit if they have to work on their birthday. For me, the more I hype the day, the more disappointed I eventually become; if I have low expectations, then every greeting and card is just a bonus.
I think 21 is officially the last fun birthday. (I did have a really fun 22nd, but never mind…) A couple years ago I stopped rounding up. My birthday is January 23rd; if you ask me on January 22nd how old I am, I am going to say “I’m 28.” Not, “I’m going to be 29 tomorrow.”
The kids I tutor tell me, “I’m 6 and a half” three weeks after their sixth birthday.
For a hilarious rant that pretty much sums up my attitude to birthdays, check out this clip of Patton Oswalt. (WARNING: CONTAINS STRONG LANGUAGE!)
1. Amusement Park Rides:
There is nothing more exciting and joyous for a child than filling up on sugar and spinning around for a while. As a child, I could not get enough of the Tilt-a-Whirl, the Merry-Go-Round, and those swings that rise up and down in the air and make you feel like you’re flying.
Now, I get nauseous on a regular old analog-style swing. What happened?
2. Marshmallows:
For a kid, marshmallows are the epic perfection of sugar treatments, and s’mores are the crème brûlée of childhood. It still seems like a great idea to me: roasting marshmallows look fantastic, and they smell even better! And I still enjoy the art of slow-toasting my mallow to perfection on a stick over a fire. But the moment I take a bite, I taste disappointment; that, and diabetes.
3. Cartoons:
When I was 3 years old (1985), She-Ra was my hero. One Halloween I dressed up as her. The costume only came with a mask, a sword, and some wrist cuffs, so my mom had to improvise the rest of my costume.
She put me in a pink tutu I’d inherited from a cousin that was a couple sizes too big. And since it’s Michigan, I had to wear a coat, as well.
I don’t care; I still looked rad. (My little brother was He-Man!)
I was disappointed to discover that the cartoon does not live up to my memories of it. Nor do most of the cartoons I watched as a kid. I remember them being exciting and cool; I watch them now and realize they’re boring and violent. (Hard to pull both of those off at the same time, but yeah.) Even the Smurfs are really lame on re-viewing.
4. Snow:
Ok, I still love snow…until Christmas is over. Then snow can just F off, as far as I’m concerned!
As a child? Powdered magic. As an adult? Driving nightmare and cute boots-ruining inconvenience.
5. Birthdays:
There’s something pathetic about people who make a big deal about their birthday after a certain age. I know people who throw a fit if they have to work on their birthday. For me, the more I hype the day, the more disappointed I eventually become; if I have low expectations, then every greeting and card is just a bonus.
I think 21 is officially the last fun birthday. (I did have a really fun 22nd, but never mind…) A couple years ago I stopped rounding up. My birthday is January 23rd; if you ask me on January 22nd how old I am, I am going to say “I’m 28.” Not, “I’m going to be 29 tomorrow.”
The kids I tutor tell me, “I’m 6 and a half” three weeks after their sixth birthday.
For a hilarious rant that pretty much sums up my attitude to birthdays, check out this clip of Patton Oswalt. (WARNING: CONTAINS STRONG LANGUAGE!)
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no subject
Date: 2010-08-16 02:01 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-16 02:25 pm (UTC)Anyway, I think I had it confused with Mighty Mouse. Forgive an ignorant American?
no subject
Date: 2010-08-17 07:18 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-18 04:20 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-18 04:24 am (UTC)I'll report back once I've watched an ep or two. ;)