10) Riding bikes everywhere.
When we were kids my buddies and I could cover every inch of Columbus on bike. Summers were spent mostly riding to the pool and back. I can't even remember how many times I got in trouble for staying out past dark on that bike during the summer. It was worth it, though (sorry mom and dad). And we didn't need no stinking helmets!
9) Movies like Time Bandits, Rad, Red Dawn, The Goonies, and Mad Max.
Come on now, who doesn't love a good old 80's flick? Remember when Stallone and Schwarzenegger were kings at the box office, and action movies were still actually good despite their cheesiness? Remember when Eddie Murphy was still funny? How could anyone forget Beverly Hills Cop?! How could anyone cease to remember that awesomeness?
8) TV shows like A Team, The Greatest American Hero, The Facts of Life, Eight is Enough, and Battlestar Galactica.
What else can I say? Networks actually filled time slots with real sitcoms back in the 80's. No reality show crapola. Crazy, huh?
7) Waking up on Christmas morning to presents!
Hopefully of the bad ass, action figure, butt kicking variety. Or a bike.
6) Tang
Ah, the refreshing taste of Tang. Hell, it tasted so good, even the astronauts drank it! What else do you need?
5) The Cold War
Seriously! Things seemed a lot simpler when two super powers stood in the east and west, and the world seemed on the edge of nuclear oblivion! But Gorbachev and Reagan began to work out their differences with perestroika and glasnost and things were good! Besides, who didn't get a kick out of trying to figure out which Garanimal Gorby's birthmark was shaped like?
4) 80's music!
Music is what gave life to this post in the first place, so how could I forget to mention the greats? Chicago (the Peter Cetera era), Phil Collins, The Police, and The Cars are just a few.
3) Being near family.
The grandparents were always a quick car or bike ride away. Visits with aunts, uncles and cousins were more frequent. Seeing my parents every day (by virtue of living in their house) is something I miss. I don't think they'd be all that keen on me moving back in, though.
2) Star Wars was still cool.
What can I say? I really think that the prequels stunk like bantha poodoo. They didn't live up to the 15 years of hype, George. Sorry, man. You let us down. Now go hang your head and cry.
And the number 1 thing I miss most about the 80's?
1) Just being a kid!
Kirk out.
