It does not seem possible that 1980 was 34 years ago!  I don’t know if it’s because that would mean I’m getting old, or if it’s because the 80s are still such a fond memory for so many people that it doesn’t feel like so much time has passed, but either way, I truly believe it was one of the most influential decades in American history…a decade of indulgence – a decade of silliness – a decade I often long to relive….

 I come home in the mornin’ light

My mother says, “When you gonna live your life right”

“Oh Mommy dear, we’re not the fortunate ones
And girls, they wanna have fun
Woah girls, just wanna have fun”

Read more: Cyndi Lauper – Girls Just Want To Have Fun Lyrics | MetroLyrics 

I made it through the wilderness

Somehow I made it through

Didn’t know how lost I was

Until I found you

Read more: Madonna – Like A Virgin Lyrics | MetroLyrics 

Ahhh, the music of the 80s…

I cannot even begin to tell you the number of hours I spent in my room in the 80s pretending to be a  pop megastar just like Madonna and Cindi Lauper – rocking out in front a mirror and singing into my “closed fist” microphone.  In my mind, I was the greatest of all pop stars, had millions of groupies and guys falling over themselves to be near me, and I basically felt like I did rule the world!

The 80s were such a defining decade in rock n’ roll history.  Some of the biggest names in music came into their own in the 80s….Madonna, Michael Jackson, Pat Benetar, Journey, Prince, Van Halen, Bon Jovi, and U2 just to name a few.  Even to this day, the 80s is still my favorite decade in music.  There were very few songs released during these revolutionary years that I didn’t absolutely LOVE.  I still have most of my car radio stations set to stations that play 80s music – despite the fact that it is now considered classic rock!  :o)

Not only did the 80s define and change music forever, it also gave us some of the most interesting, bizarre, and awesome hairstyles and fashions we have ever known.

I guess because the 80s were some of my most formidable years (I was 5 in 1980, so you can imagine how much of an influence the mid 80s would have had on a 10-year-old girl.), I still love some of the clothes and hairstyles of this generation.  Though I was never a huge fan of the mullet, I did think a few guys could pull it off back then…like Billy Ray Cyrus (Yes, I was a FAN! — Hanging head in shame!!!)

I also loved the big poufy hair that I and all my friends sported, as well as the big sloppy shirts worn over tight leggings, and you can’t forget the ginormous belt that hung down over the hips.

A bottle of hairspray and a teasing comb were never far from my hand, either.  For.Sure.  😉

The 80s were also defined by some amazing TV shows — well, at least in my own opinion they were amazing — ones that were important enough to me to warrant begging my parents to let me stay up “just a little later”.  I think my absolute favorite 80’s show was The Greatest American Hero.  The show didn’t last more than a few seasons, but I loved every minute of it.  My dad used to watch it with me, and it was one of the few areas where we could bond, so we watched Greatest American Hero, The Dukes of Hazard, The Fall Guy, and TJ Hooker together.  They all still hold a soft soft in my heart even after all these years.  Of course, being the early bloomer I was, there was always one guy in each show that I was totally in love with!  In GAH it was Ralph Hinkley of course…in Dukes of Hazzard my heart pounded for Bo Duke….I loved Howie in the Fall Guy (no idea why, now)….and I was smitten with Romano in TJ Hooker.  

Of course there were many other awesome shows from the 80s that I loved like Family Ties, The Cosby Show, Soap, and the list could go on and on.  They don’t make good quality shows like they did back then. Nowadays you’re almost afraid to even start watching a new show as it will most likely get cancelled within the first season.  Back then shows lasted at least a few seasons before a decision was made to yank it if the ratings were low.

I have so many fond memories of  the TV shows, musicians, and fashions of the 80s.  This decade is also where I developed my love for reading, and the books that got me started was a series called Sweet Valley High.  I had a ton of these books, and I could never wait to get my hands on the next one and the next one and….  They were awesome books for teenage girls.  All of my friends loved them too, and we would trade back and forth to make sure we had read them all.  I could never decide whether I wanted to be Jessica or Elizabeth.

And last, but certainly not least was the movies of the 80s.  Who could argue that some of the greatest and most influential movies of all time came out in the 80s?  Where would be today without having E.T., Star Wars, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Sixteen Candles, Indiana Jones, Risky Business, The Terminator, Top Gun, Back to the Future, Rambo, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, and Beverly Hills Cop…just to, literally, name a few!

Ahhh, the 80s….how I miss you!