I Like Dirt

Born and raised in the '90's…

Photo Credit: Jan Cowles (aka my mom, 1995)

I grew up wearing over-sized retro t-shirts and typically bright or patterned leggings. I still don't know if this was a style or if it was just my own way of dressing, but I rocked it. This combination is all over fashion magazines these days, so I'd say I was a trend-setter. To be honest, I did not like the color pink, and took my shoes off whenever possible. It was typical to find me with stains from food or dirt or paint on my clothing. Some of this was because I hated to have sticky substances on my hands, and another factor was that I was always playing with that sticky stuff that I found urgent to remove from my skin.

My sister, Paige, is 2 1/2 years older than me with a similar interest in playing with the sticky things. Fortunately for her wardrobe, she could wait until she reached a sink in order to remove it from her hands. This all goes to say that we were more likely to be found in the backyard than in front of the television or a game system, which is shocking given the time period we grew up in. We grew up in what was known as the "True Dawn of the Information Age" which honestly sounds like it could be a tragic ending to the world as we knew it. Turns out in a way it was...

http://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/i/information_age.asp

In elementary school we had computer class. It was another “special” just like art, gym, or library. We would go to the computer lab with the brand new brightly colored Apple iMac desktop cubes that came out in 1998- when I was in third grade. We would go to the computer lab and learn how to perform research projects as well as to play reading and spelling computer games. While learning how to spell, we were also learning a newly necessary skill of typing. It was amazing to be part of this, coming home and hearing my parents say that they had never known what a computer was when they were my age. We were really part of something big.

Television time limits were rarely a concern in our household. Although it was typical for me to be able to name off a television show that I was fond of, most of which could be found on the Animal Planet or ABC Family. I liked shows that kept my attention, and typically they were about animals or kids like me. There used to be this amazing show called ZOOM where kids would show other kids watching the show how to do certain science experiments which would allow the viewer to try it for themselves. Yes, I was one of those nerdy kids who would do the experiments along with them. Shut up, I learned from them.

Yes, this was embarassing to admit.

I had a pretty big fascination with cameras, and actually still do. This was one medium of technology that I wanted to get my hands on, and wanted to continue using. When I was very young, my parents got me disposable cameras. By the time I turned old enough to hold onto something heavier than 2 pounds without dropping it or forgetting it somewhere obscure like within the slide at the playground (...so, last year...), my parents got me my own film developing camera. Not disposable, but film. It was thrilling to be able to capture those moments and then have them forever after I developed them. Technology allowed me to remember and to relive. It allows me today to remember my grandfather and remember the times before I could really remember moment to moment.

Technology played a big part in my childhood, through Disney movies and television shows; especially with cameras and the computers that were up and coming. I guess a part of me was knowingly unaware of the fact that these had such a big impact on my life. Another part of me wants to keep it that way, and be blissfully naive to the fact that we are so reliant on technology.

For now, I'm going to go continue playing in the mud.