What Was Your Favorite Year?

Recently, a friend recommended Britain’s  “Seven Up” series to me. If’ you’re not familiar with this documentary, it’s a must-see for anyone interested in nostalgia, psychology and seeing a timeline of people over the course of several decades.

The series, created by Michael Apted, begins in 1964, where a bunch of kids from varying backgrounds are brought together and chronicled every seven years to see how their lives have evolved. Zits come and go, many waistlines swell, and most of those from privileged backgrounds rise like cream to the top of the food chain.The voyeur in me is fascinated by the ebb and flow of these lives. Seeing the permutations of adolescence, young adulthood, marriage, divorce, and the vagaries of time makes me reflect on what has been the best time of my life? Is it still to come, or does it lie in the shadows of my youth?

I loved Carpenter Ave. Elementary School, with all its pranks, afternoon activities, and endless play. Life was one big pitcher of Red Bull, as we engaged in incessant activity. If I could have abandoned sleep, I would have gladly done so to get in another inning of baseball. We took our bodies for granted, and for the most part, they did anything we wanted them to do.

For me, Walter Reed Junior High was a tough recipe. I remember being plagued with many family problems that made my teens rather uncomfortable. And all those hormones! Sometimes peer pressure helped us feel accepted, but for many of us, we often felt neglected, chastised or simply ignored.

North Hollywood High School was a blast, as I found my niche with sports, music, writing and other interest groups.  Experimentation was the norm as we dabbled with drugs, politics and other forms of self-expression. Remember those tie-dye jeans and love beads? Project Runway would cringe.

College was wonderful. Who could argue with a school right on the beach? All was swell until I had to graduate and figure out what to do with my useless psychology degree. When I found myself taking the bus to downtown LA for a series of temp jobs, I longed for those days at UCSB where I could run my heart out and only have to worry about passing an exam.

My adult years have been pretty good for the most part. I found a good fit in the advertising business, and was able to earn a decent living doing something I enjoyed.  Lovers came and went over the years, but I never endured a nasty divorce, custody battles or a financial meltdown like many of my friends. I never had any children, but I sometimes I wonder how my life may have been enriched if I had been a mother.  But we’ve got three cats, so maybe that counts for something.

As a boomer, we’re all dealing with different things now. Some people are glad to be where they are. Others long for yesteryear.  For the most part, I’m happy I’m where I am. I would like to have the body of a 25 year old again, but that’s about it.

So, what was your best year, and why? If you could roll back the clock, at what age would you select?