What year from your youth would you relive if you were given a chance? And why?

[Tommy_Carcetti]

For me, I'd have to say it would be 16. Why?

Well, first I decided to leave the crappy private high school that had been a nightmare for me for over two years, and go back to the public school with the people I had gone to school with since elementary school. Then I had the greatest summer of my youth, mainly because it was the last summer before my parents made me get a summer job so I still had a chance just to have fun for the summer. So it meant a lot of just going to the pool. I remember going to Six Flags with some friends and just having a ton of fun there. That was also the summer I discovered the Smashing Pumpkins, almost inadvertantly when going through my sister's tape collection, and music was never the same for me.

During our family's annual vacation to Florida, I found out there was a cute girl living next door to our vacation place, and she would invite her three cute friends over at night and we would all hang out by the swimming pool. So that was pretty damn awesome.

And of course it was also the summer that I met my first love, and even though she lived a couple of hours away, we'd spend hours on the phone every night just talking about everything and anything. And that was just before email really became huge so we still sent ourselves a lot of letters by regular mail, and I'd remember how excited I would get whenever I'd open up the mailbox and see a letter from her. You have to remember that before this, I was always very shy and awkward around girls, and because it was the first time I really felt comfortable with someone of the opposite sex, it just marked a major transition in my life.

After the summer, I went back to school, but it was the public school that I had initially avoided going to. And I was so surprised and happy to find out how friendly everyone was there, in great contrast to the cliquish private school I had gone to before. So I reconnected with old friends and made some new friends as well.

Plus I made straight As twice that school year, and I took Civics class with a teacher who would change my life, who gave me the interest in law and politics and government that I still have a passion for today.

I remember the excitement of looking for colleges that year, and how I was able to escape a blizzard in Maryland to go down to Florida and look for colleges in the middle of the winter.

I learned how to drive that year. I still had my golden retriever, who unfortunately was growing old but I still loved to take her down to the beach for walks. And that year, we slowly were able to "adopt" a stray cat who was quite skiddish at first, but slowly but surely became friendlier and friendlier until she would literally run up to me and jump in my lap and purr.

At the end of the school year, I went to prom with my first love, and it was just a very special event that I wouldn't forget. Unfortunately, the distance thing sort of killed any long term prospects, but for that one night, I was on top of the world.

Then I turned 17. Which was somewhat anti-climatic. I basically just spent all that year waiting to graduate and move away to go to college.

And suddenly I feel very nostalgic, and rather bittersweet knowing that I'll never have a chance to relive that wonderful year. But what can you do?

[MorningGlow]

1. 12, but for the opposite reason

I had some good times with my friends, but by and large seventh grade was total hell. Our middle school closed and merged with "the other one", which made for a miserable year--overcrowded classrooms, disgruntled teachers, fights ALL the time (girlfights too--in fact, they were more prevalent, IIRC). I had a couple of bullies; the worst one was a boy on my bus whose sole purpose in life, it seemed, was to make me miserable. And yeah, I was awkward, gawky, unattractive, and painfully shy.

I would relive that year if I could bring with me the wisdom I've gained over the years, as well as the confidence...and makeup and hair skillz. I would realize that I was not ugly--in fact, far from it.

I would stand up to my bullies, especially that asswipe on the bus. You know that advice parents give--"just ignore them and they'll go away"? Yeah. Total bullshit. If I could do it again, I wouldn't listen.

I would ditch a friend whose companionship meant trouble--loyalty is fine, but only up to a point.

And I'd even get into a girlfight or two--I don't know what I was so petrified of. I've never been in a physical fight, but looking back at that year, I say screw pacifism; when you're in the prisonyard and you have to prove yourself, you bring a shiv (figuratively speaking, of course, but I had heard stories of girls who would cover their fingers with all their friends' rings so when they punched their opponent, it would really draw blood).

Oh yeah--and I'd sing more. I found out that year that I actually had a good voice, but I kept it buried in the school chorus. I never soloed all through middle school and high school. Dumb.

[av8rdave]

3. How many times I've wished I could relive parts of my life knowing what I know now

That being said, I'd redo 19.

[MorningGlow]

6. Too true

19 was good, come to think of it. I'd relive that year for fun. I stood up to my mom, who was always making me waste my summer vacations by working like a dog at temp office jobs (it was the only summer job-type-thing she thought was "worthwhile"), and instead I got a job as a daycamp counselor for the summer. I made just as much money as I would have in those hellhole over-refrigerated offices where I was treated like a moron and/or a punching bag. Plus I got a tan, used my outdoor skills, taught kids, and developed a crush on our lead counselor. Had a blast every day. And then all the counselors went out drinking together several nights a week! Definitely good times.

[av8rdave]

7. My daughter worked as a camp counselor last summer

Very valuable experience!

[MorningGlow]

8. It helped me decide to be a teacher

I didn't stick with that, of course, but the idea got me through grad school and one whole year of teaching high school English before I came up for air and thought :wtf:
:rofl:

[azmouse]

2. I wouldn't relive any of my teenage years but

I'd relive 1984. I turned 23 that year, and it was the year I got my first good job and moved out of my parent's house.
I loved being out on my own with a job I enjoyed and to top it all off, it was the year I got engaged to my husband.
Great year!

[MrCoffee]

4. 17, and I never would have smoked that first cigarette

[RadiationTherapy]

5. 23-24 1998.

Spent 10 months in a hostel that seemed to be removed, dimensionally, from the greasy material world that we are surrounded by.

Drugs, hikes, music, sex, desert, poetry...changed my life.

[harmonicon]

9. 16

I had a car, a band, and a hot girlfriend who, for some reason, I was allowed to spend the night with and go out of town with. God, my life ruled. How did it come to this?

[bikebloke]

10. 1982

I would've skipped a visit to a Swiss chick I'd foolishly fallen for on a kibbutz in Israel. Instead, I should have continued hitching to Berlin to visit another lass. Boy, the heart can be so fucking dumb at times.

[fizzgig]

11. 21

that summer changed my life.

i took a five-week summer course through nyu. it was two weeks in the city, one in london and two more in amsterdam. i went out a few days early to visit some family and then tacked on a week in scotland at the end of it.

i had never been away from home for more than a few weeks, i went to school in my hometown, lived with my parents and was in the fifth year of my relationship with my boyfriend. that trip, however, changed me so much and for the better. i was almost completely free for nearly seven weeks, i got my class work done and then partied, something i never did at home. i got to know myself so much in those short weeks and, more importantly, i learned how to have fun. everyone remarked on the difference when i got home and my family was glad i did it.

the only thing i would have changed is to not have a boyfriend at the time so i could have indulged the itch i developed for a pretty finnish boy in my class :evilgrin:

[BOSSHOG]

12. My eleventh in 1966

My Mom was very sick and she died. I'd like to remove that year from the universe, I wish my Mom hadn't suffered. I wish she was still with us.

[Left Is Write]

13. 1982.

It was good.

:D

[Phentex]

14. If a year of your youth includes email, you're too damn young!

LOL! :) Ya little whippersnapper!

I'd say 25. Not for a particularly momentous year but I loved being old enough to be taken seriously but young enough to be considered young.

I traveled a lot that year. It was all good.

[Jamastiene]

15. 18

I followed Joan Jett around the country and saw her in concert and met her numerous times. It was great. Her road crew recognized me, talked to me, ate dinner with me once, and let me sit on the edge of the stage to keep me safe when the crowds got rowdy. That was the greatest time I have ever had in my entire life. I felt like I was "on tour" with Joan Jett in a way. They were just so nice to me, her people and her and the Blackhearts are such great guys too. What I wouldn't give to have that again.

[seemunkee]

16. Do I get to make it so people don't die

If so then I'll take 17. My dad died in May, his dad died in June, a good friend died in July.

[Bucky]

17. 18. That was the year it all went wrong. Also 17...

That was the year it all went wrong, too. And maybe throw in 16, cause it all went wrong that year. Honestly, I could do with a do over on 19, 14, and 15, if they're running a bargain. You see, it all went wrong about that times.

[onlyadream]

18. 15, I would change everything...

I was a baaaad girl! :evilgrin:

[tigereye]

19. 16-17 I think

driving, hanging out with friends, cool boyfriends, doing theater, yearbook, music, traveling and all that stuff. Lots of exciting activities.

[trof]

20. 1963

March: Commissioned as 2nd Lt. in air national guard.
I was 21.
No slot in a USAF pilot training class available until late August, so I was basically useless to them.
Got permission to skip monthly drills for June, July, and August.
Went with a close buddy on road trip to Myrtle Beach, NC.
Got jobs as lifeguards on the beach.
The young college women working as waitresses in all the restaurants l-u-u-u-u-ved lifeguards.
Serious bacchanalia ensued.
Kind of an X-rated 'Beach Blanket Bingo'.
Large quantities of beer and PJ* consumed by all.


*Purple Jesus - A mixture of 1/3 Everclear grain alcohol

95% alcohol (190 proof)

and 2/3 Welch's grape juice

100% grape juice (0 proof)

So called because the first time I had some I said "What's this? It's purple!"
I tasted it and said "JESUS!"
PJ was born.
;-)

[Z_I_Peevey]

21. 1973

I was dating the guy I SHOULD have married, knew very little about how difficult life could be and I was pretty darned good-looking. Also, a zit-free year.