10 ways of having fun, then and now

I previously wrote about what I know now and what I wish I knew then. It started me thinking that being older is really great! At the same time, I thought of more of the differences between then and now. The term, “it’s not the years, it’s the mileage” really starts to mean something here.

The meaning of fun changes with age, with money, with time or the lack thereof, and most of all, with husbands, wives, children and pets. There are so many ways to have fun but we find reasons not to. Travel becomes the thing we do before we take it easy and get back to work. Long weekends turn into “honeydew” lists. And what happened to plain old sitting in the park on a spring day, under a tree, with a good book and man's best friend at your side?

I’ll tell you what happened.

Big screen HD televisions, 999 channels on the satellite and DVR’s in every room. “XBOX Live parties” and “Second Life worlds” on line 24 hours a day. MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter has given rise to a new meaning of “hanging out with friends”. 'l33t' speak on internet forums has replaced writing letters to pen pals and watching “film adaptations” has replaced reading the classic book itself.

Well back in my day when we actually used to do things outside, with real people at real places, it was a heck of a lot different. But I also do hope none of you are doing some of the crazy things I did at such a young age. I just wanted to share some differences I have had in having fun, then and now:

1. THEN: Climbing trees – Because there is nothing more fun and frightening at 9 than getting to the highest limb. NOW: Climbing the stairs to the tenth floor – ‘Oh God…*wheeze*….please….let…. *cough* …..me….make…. *gasp* ….it?!?... (without passing out) – Because there is nothing more frightening at 39 than thinking you’ll have a heart attack in a stairwell.
2. THEN: Skinny dipping at the beach in the moonlight – Because I can. NOW: Lounging on the floaty at the apartment pool, fully suited – Because I can’t get myself into the skinny anymore.
3. THEN: Dancing the night away in gay bars – “It’s raining men, hallelujah, it’s raining men!” NOW: Dancing around the mess in my teenagers room – “Now your Mom threw away your best porno mag!”
4. THEN: Constantly on the go – I had places to be, people to see and things to do. NOW: Constantly on the couch – Nowhere to go, no one to see and I’m pretty certain I don’t have to do THAT anymore.
5. THEN: Playing depressing music by all my favorite New Wave bands – I am teenage angst, hear me whimper. NOW: Playing depressing music by all my favorite Trance bands – I am angst all grown up, hear me whimper. Well, some things never change…
6. THEN: Hanging out at the local record/book store – Cos I was cool like that. NOW: Hanging out at the local book/video game store – Cos I’m still cool like that.
7. THEN: Riding on a Harley – Sun, sand, surf, bugs, rain, broke down on the side of the road! NOW: Riding in an airplane – Much faster, plus my jeans don’t ride up in my crotch as much.
8. THEN: Drinking beer the entire night with friends – Sex and drugs and rock n roll! NOW: Watching “Friends” on tv, drinking Diet Coke – Cos “those” kind of friends I can do without.
9. THEN: Having sex all night with my boyfriend – Who needs sleep? NOW: Sleeping 8 hours in a row – Who needs sex? Well you know what I mean.
10. THEN: Hanging out all day at the canal, roller skating, fishing for crabs and jellyfish, playing jacks – I was a kid, that’s what kids do! NOW: Wishing I was hanging out all day at the canal, roller skating, fishing for crabs and jellyfish, playing jacks – I am an adult now, that’s what adults do.

So the next time you're having fun, remember it, and when you’re having a bad day you’ll have memories to make you smile. When some memory that breaks your heart creeps in, replace it with the first winter you ever made snow angels. Because trust me, all those moments will be nothing but priceless when you get older and will keep you going thru good times and bad.

As ‘Auntie Mame’ said: “Life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death!”

So I say, “Get out there and start eating!”

~Tet~