Last week I was having my guest blogger week with birth stories, so I didn't write my Mommy's Piggy Tales post. This week I'm going to just lump 7th & 8th grade together. This actually works out because they flow together in my mind.
This is the only picture I could find on my computer or Facebook that was around this time - I'm in the middle with the khaki shorts. This was at the end of 8th grade.
Age 12 or 7th Grade
Age 13 or 8th Grade
The biggest thing I remember about middle school is that my uncle died in my 7th grade year. He was only in his 40's. I have 2 cousins, one a year or so younger than me & one a couple years older than me. This was my mom's brother, so I remember my mom falling apart & I remember not knowing exactly what to say to my cousins. They're both boys & seeing how we were young & not as close as we are now, I just couldn't find the words & didn't know what to do. It's incredibly difficult to observe & experience something like this even from the more distant position I was in. Even looking back, I can't imagine what it was like for my cousins. We can talk about it a little now, but it is something that will always, understandably be a difficult topic.
There are a couple of other big themes that stick out in this time period. For one, I remember everything just being boys, boys, boys!! Hormones were raging!!! I had so many crushes. I still remember that feeling of just being head over heels for some silly boy who you've never really had much of a conversation with.
This was also the age of Leo. OMG Leonardo DiCaprio. Romeo & Juliet. Titanic. The Man in the Iron Mask (what? the one where he has nasty dread hair?? - yes, even that one). I was a big fan.
This also began my love affair with TV & movies. South Park aired for the first time when I was in middle school. I've never been a huge fan, but I remember it being a big deal. Does everyone remember TGIF with Boy Meets World? Yes, awesome. This was big. Party of Five was in its peak & Scott Wolf was so cute! Jennifer Love Hewitt was also at a high point in her career! BUT, bigger than all of that...
Buffy the Vampire Slayer aired in the spring of my 7th grade year. Oh yes. Me, my dad & my brother watched this together every week! It was absolutely fabulous. I am still a huge fan & have all the seasons on DVD - as well as a few collector's dolls I've gotten as birthday gifts from some super cool friends & family members!
Friends was also in its 3rd & 4th seasons. This was also a family time show in my house. I remember when it switched to Thursdays, it used to be a big deal if I would ask to do something on a Thursday night because that was when we all watched Friends together. At least me, my brother & my dad. There was a lot of junk that happened in my life over the next several years, but these weekly Buffy & Friends nights stayed fairly consistent & that will always be special to me, no matter what people may think about TV watching & our culture. It bonded us. I still watch both of them on a regular basis. Luckily Lewis is a big fan of Friends & my best friend Diana is a big fan of Buffy!!
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