Appreciate It

My mom and I were talking last night and she said that she didn't realize how happy she was in her twenties until she was in her fifties. It got me to thinking. Now I don't think I had an awesome time when I was younger because I was going through an awkward and geeky phase (which continues to this day but that's another story.) But there are some things I do miss about my youth.

1. Jack in the Box Supreme Nachos - They were horrible for you, but so good. I ate them all through high school. I would get them at lunch and what I didn't finish I would save in my locker and eat after school. Yes, nachos that sat for hours. I know, it's completely disgusting. But I had a cast iron stomach when I was sixteen. (I still have the cast iron stomach but now I have the brains not to do that anymore.)

2. Insomnia - Yes, I know it's weird to miss insomnia but when I get it now I look and feel like I had insomnia. When I was nineteen it was no big deal. I could stay up all night watching old movies on late night TV and still function the next day. Plus my best friend Melissa had insomnia then too so we would talk on the phone at three in the morning. Sometimes we would even go to a local casino and eat breakfast at four am. One time we were sold by a pimp to two gentlemen from out of town. We had to inform these men that we had never seen that man before and that they were ripped off. Man were we offended...and flattered. He sold us for a lot of money. Trust me, no one today is going to pay that kind of money for me.

3. Friday nights - God I lived for those. Going out with my friends plus all of the preparation that went into going out with my friends. (Endless 'what are you going to wear" and 'where are we going' conversations.) Now a big Friday night involves Netflix. God, I'm pathetic.

4. Friends - Oh, I still have friends. But back then we were all pretty much single and there was always somebody to call if you wanted to go to the mall or the movies or whatever. Now all of my friends are married or have kids or whatever and going out now involves planning and timing and babysitters. It's never spur of the moment. Hence my Netflix extravaganzas.

5. Not worrying about my skin - Okay, I was pretty lucky and never had bad skin when I was a teen. Sure I got the occasional pimple (and still do, dammit) but I didn't worry about moisturizer and sunscreen and under eye cream and wrinkles and crows feet and the ravages of time. But now, whew, it seems like an obsession. I check out all the latest stuff to make my skin younger, dewier, fresher, more elastic. And I know it's just going to get worse. Ditto for gray hair.

Of course, I am a better person today. I'm more secure in who I am. I care less about what other people think. I'm a better driver. The friends I have today can be counted on forever. I'm a better cook. I know what I want and I know how to work hard to get it. So I don't think I would go back (no regrets). But I do miss those nachos.