So I heard that Gary Coleman, Arnold from Different Strokes, died. I remember I used to watch that show. I liked it. I liked the "What choo talkin about Willis?" line. It was funny. His passing is sad especially when you know about all the trouble he had after the show with his family, finances, health and staying out of trouble.
It is bothersome to me that within the past year so many entertainers from my childhood have passed away. Farrah Fawcett, John Hughes, Corey Haim, Michael Jackson. Each one of these people were part of my life growing up. Farrah Fawcett... I loved watching re-runs of Charlie's Angel. It was great to see beautiful, smart and tough women on t.v. John Hughes... His movies defined my adolescence. I still absolutely love 16 Candles and The Breakfast Club and Vacation is quite possibly one of the funniest movies I have ever seen. Corey Haim... I wasn't into the Coreys. I think I was a bit too old when they made it big. But, I did like The Lost Boys. Nonetheless his passing was sad. Michael Jackson... during the 80's I liked his music but I appreciate it more now than I did then. I was too busy wearing black and listening to Depeche Mode and The Cure to realize how good his music really was. He's another one whose life was filled with trouble and controversary.
All of this is disturbing me. They were part of my life growing up... they were too young to die. I feel that with their passing so soon... I have loss some of my youth. What a shame that such talented people were taken so soon.

Lost in translation or just plan naive????

So, I am at Jazzercise the other day doing a routine to a remixed version of Frankie Goes to Hollywood's "Relax" and I started day dreaming again. I thought of how dang naive I was growing up. My parents avoided any talk that could be uncomfortable, drugs, sex, etc. So as I zoned out I thought about how much I loved this song growing and how I liked it when I was able to "relax" too! Only years later did I learn what it was about. Uh! Those dang British! Then some other meanings childhood favorite songs came to mind. "She Bop"..... I thought Cindy was singing about how everyone likes to dance, like me. I'd get down to this song. I'd sing it out loud, dance around. Well the joke was on me! I was wrong. Girls DO want to have fun! ;) "Physical"... How could you Olivia? You were my idol. I loved you in Grease and Xanadu! You hung on my wall! But, you weren't singing about the working out I was thinking of. So, finally the song was near the end when our wonderful instructor, originally from Germany, said, " Don't we all need to Relax sometimes. Like in this song." "Yes!", I thought. "I am not the only green, naive person out there!" But to her credit, English is her 2nd language, so some things get lost in translation!