Thirtysomething 2.0

Okay, so I'm not going to lie, I've spent most evenings watching the show "Thirtsomething" on Netflix. Some of you may remember it - it was a show in the 80s. I missed out entirely because it was on past my bedtime and was a bit too mature for my taste. I was probably about six at the time. I took a chance and watched the pilot last week, and couldn't stop thinking to myself... "this has the *flavour* of 'My So-Called Life', and I love it." Not until the credits did I realize it was done by the same creators of MSCL. They did "Thirtysomething", it was a success, and then they came up with MSCL. Even the introductions, music, lighting, all have the same feel. I have this huge soft spot for MSCL, so I'm quite happy to be watching it's predecessor.

I remember recently rewatching "My So-Called Life" and thinking to myself - when this show first began, I was in Junior High and I related, epically, to the teenager characters. All teenage girls who watched that show could relate to someone - Angela, maybe Rayanne for the more rebellious girls. I felt like an Angela, because I always had a complicated cruch on a boy (the Jordan Chases of the world) who never appeared to be interested. Then of course, the show ends with promise of a relationship, and girls like myself could pretend that maybe, just maybe, those boys actually *would* take notice. Maybe, just maybe, that boy I had a crush on would take my hand and walk with me down the hall as a swell of music rings in my ears.

For the record, no such luck. My first kiss was a pity kiss by a boy I was hopelessly in love with... who ended up dating my best friend for four years. That teenage sting never really goes away, you know.

What was my point. Ah yes. I used to relate to the teenagers. When rewatching, however, I couldn't help but relate far more to the parents in the show. Not because of their relationship or parenting dilemmas... perhaps more their maturity, jobs, and life-views. I wonder when I crossed over from feeling like an Angela, to feeling like a Patty.

So, "Thirtysomething". I am completely fascinated with this show, because it was giving a fairly accurate view of people in their thirties - in the early 1980s. Almost three decades ago (does anyone else feel a little old as I say that? I had to do the math twice, it seemed so wrong.) One thing is for sure. Some things never change, and others do. Could I vague that statement up a little more?

What do I mean. Just like three decades ago, people in their thirties still place value on the same things - love, careers, babies, marriage, personal success (defined by what is most important to us...). Cheating, birth, sickness, death... the topics are timeless. That being said, other than the glaringly obvious (FASHION), there are some interesting differences.

First of all, case in point. When I watch these shows, I can't help but think to myself "why are all these actors so OLD, they aren't in their thirties!!" Newsflash - they are. I simply can't see past the high heel pumps, pink lipstick, pantyhose, shoulderpads and silk scarves. All the women dress like how my mother dressed in the 80s. When I was a child, my Mum was old. Not really, but babies think grown-ups are ancient. Actually, Mum was close to the age of the actors and actresses, and she was in her thirties. As am I, now.

Woah.

I was inspired to write this after watching one of the episodes covering a hard hitting topic - the scandal involved with a single woman, in her thirties, looking at buying her apartment. On top of the usual scandal of a woman buying before marriage (and her buying, not the man) this was particularly scandalous because it was *gasp* a ONE-BEDROOM. In other words, no place to put the baby.

She didn't have a baby. But you know, you can't buy a place without a room for the inevitable baby!!

I watched this episode, has a cocktail and a cigarette. I knitted a few more rows on a scarf, cuddled with my puppy. I felt a little lonely, because I don't have a partner. But then again, neither did the fabulous Ellen on Thirtysomething, and she seems to be doing okay. And I guess, to summarize in as succinct a way possible... I feel very glad that in my group and in society in general, my lifestyle is not generally questioned. Who knows, maybe one day I'll buy this apartment. I doubt anyone would question me about it. Of course, if I then have a baby, I'll simply have to convert the bathtub into a crib, and store the stroller on the roof of the Noodle Box.

Bringing a new attitude to Thirtysomething...

PS