Winnie Cooper

What is it about Winnie Cooper that captured the attention of suburban boys all over America? She wasn't anything out of the ordinary, she was just so sweet. I think that every guy wanted a girl like her. She lived in your neighborhood, she went to the same school, but she was a little bit out of your league. We all knew it. We never had a chance with Winnie Cooper. Although, I think every guy should try. After all, Kevin did. And he didn't do too bad.
I think that the character of Kevin Arnold does a great job of reflecting the average boy. We're awkward, confused at times by the world, and trying everything we know to get the attention of the girl that scares us silly.
The writers of "The Wonder Years" did such a great job showing the world what goes on in the world of a boy growing up in the suburbs. It's a world that should not be underestimated or overlooked, because to that boy, it is the world.

I have been thinking about my adolescence a lot recently. With graduating and struggling to find a job in an economy that despite what politicians may say, is NOT doing well. My thoughts tend to stray back to a time when I didn't know as much, but I thought I knew it all. Now, every moment that goes by, I realize I know less than I thought, but I want to know more. At the same time, I realize that each day that goes by, means one more day that I cannot get back.
Sobering and perhaps a bit morose, but thought provoking nonetheless. These are the thoughts that go through my mind, scattered and troubling at times, but they are mine.

For now, I will watch "The Wonder Years" and contemplate the next move.

The news is time sensitive...

I recently was in the paper and on yahoonews for going to Denny's free Grand Slam Day. It happened to be the same day as my birthday, so that was a plus. The next day, everyone was talking about it, but now, almost a week later, things are back to 'normal' and I learned a very important lesson: You may act cool when you're on top of the world, but what happens when you sink six feet under? What do people say about you when you are just being yourself and nothing special happens in your life? Your actions everyday when no one is looking matters more than when everybody forgets your name and treats you a little less than you deserve.
Now, those articles are memories that my friends and I reminisce about. They only matter between me and the people who are there for me in spite of the things that I do.

Dissatisfied

I find it humorous and frustrating at the same time how we can be so dissatisfied with our current situation. Something as simple as our hair to the way we live our lives. At times we can resemble that child who is behind you in line at a store who screams when their parent refuses to buy them some candy. Why do we look past our incredible provisions and blessings at the predicaments that others are in, blinded by our own selfish ambition? We lie to ourselves, saying that it will be amazing, but in reality as soon as we make a change, we want to go back.
This has recently been the case for me. Being home has given me time to process and think about my life. I admitted something to myself that I haven't fully embraced in the past. I miss New Jersey. Something that I thought would never happen. I miss how diverse and how raw the state is. You can see an independent film in Princeton, snow ski in Vernon, go to a classic car show on the streets of Somerville, go to the beach at Ocean Grove, and see a concert in Sayreville. Not to mention New Jersey has some of the most beautiful landscape of any of the 50 states.
However, since I am missing New Jersey, I am reminding myself that God has placed me where I am for a specific reason. I need to be patient and realize that where I am at now is incredible compared to where I was yesterday.
Until the next time I set my feet upon the shifting ground that belongs to New Jersey, where the East, North, South, and West meet, I will be patiently awaiting our next meeting. Like a violent handshake from an over-bearing friend who means well is New Jersey treatment to their visitors.
Here's to you Jersey, where 'Only the strong survive' or the clinically insane.