What was your coming of age book, movie or album? For me, it was The Outsiders even though it was published in 1967… a full 10 years before my birth. How was S.E. Hinton just 15-18 years old when she wrote a book that shaped a generation…or two or more? It’s mind boggling.

Stay gold, Ponyboy. Stay gold. 
Ugly cry.😭

I fell in love with Lloyd Dobler in Say Anything. I think all middle aged women don’t dream of knights riding up on a white horses, but of romantic slackers holding boom boxes blasting Peter Gabriel. In the rain.

Was it raining?  
I think so. 
If not…it was a missed opportunity. 

But music. Ah. Music was literally how we expressed ourselves. For me, it was Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill. So much anger and love and insight and a woman owning her own sexuality. It was so different than anything we had heard. It was…EVERYTHING.

Today while running errands with McKenna, I put on 90s Alternative on Apple Music. Alanis’ Hand In My Pocket was on the playlist and she asked if we could listen to Ironic. I put on THE album and navigated to her request. But then I went back to the beginning and we started listening. It was everything I remember and more…with all its questionable lyrics and my not-yet-eleven year old.

As in…

• Would she go down on you in a theater?
• Are you thinking of me when you f*ck her?
• And every time I scratch my nails down someone else’s back I hope you feel it
• We’ll love you just the way you are…if you’re perfect
• Took a long hard look at my ass…and then played golf for a while
• You took me out to wine, dine, 69 me…but didn’t hear a damn word I said
• I confessed my darkest deeds to an envious man…My brothers, they never went blind for what they did…but I may as well have
• You’re my best friend…best friend with benefits

Thankfully, I don’t think she actually understood most of the lyrics—as in difficult to hear and not above her comprehension level. Although I did hear her singing Head Over Feet from her room and Ironic at the dinner table. 🙈🤦🏻‍♀️ This may be her coming of age moment.

No regrets. If her enlightenment has to come from someone, Alanis is a solid option.

I am writing for the 19th annual Slice of Life challenge presented by Two Writing Teachers.