the 80's

I want to be held like Baby in Dirty Dancing when Johnny picks her up and "Time Of My Life" plays in the background. Or stay in a grand hotel with Edward in Pretty Woman. I long to ride in Andie's old convertible in Pretty in Pink and I'd like to make friends with high school delinquents on a Saturday morning in the library like in the Breakfast Club. 

My dad heavily influenced me and my brother with oldies music growing up. I remember my dad always singing "Joanna" by Kool & The Gang, except he would change the lyrics from Joanna to Karina. It made me feel so warm and special as a little girl. It was one of the rare moments that I felt truly loved by my dad but that's a story for another time. 

Sometimes I wonder if I am in born in the wrong generation. I don't say this because I feel "unique" or that I'm different than every other twenty something year old girl. I say this because I genuinely never participated in the activities my peers have been doing or liked the same things girls my age like. I say this because sometimes, I feel very alone in my generation and I rarely meet twenty-somethings that have similar values to me. 

Although I am a very upbeat and energetic person, I value my time alone. I pick up random hobbies, I am big on self-compassion, and I love self-expression. Don't find a lot of that around here let me tell you. 

I like to sit in dead silence when I drive, even if my destination is 45 minutes away. I am someone who still writes letters and mails them to my loved ones. I am someone who likes in person conversations, instead of hiding behind a screen typing a filtered response to someone you swiped right on. I don't enjoy EDM or upbeat pop music, I despise going to concerts or raves, I hate drinking or getting intoxicated. Never really been into fashion or taking hot selfies on Instagram. Don't like false eyelashes or lingerie to wear to concerts. Don't really like the idea of online dating or needing to feel validated by random men online. Never participated in "hookup culture" or buying the new trendy makeups. 

So I turn to the 80's to feel belongingness. 

I think the reason I am so hooked on the 80's is because there is something real and raw that I don't see today. The script of 80's movies are so captivating and beautifully written, preformed by actors who don't get any cosmetic procedures done. The stories are simple and easy to understand- there are no complicated relationships or anything. I just find that in the 2000's there is no traditional love anymore and people my age rarely look for relationships. There is no authenticity of meeting someone organically because everything is based online. Even books are digitalized and most people moved to Kindles, no need for real pages to flip. 

The 80's films I watch have something I long for. Everything was so simple back then, calling your friends on the landline, going to the mall on Saturdays, browsing record stores, roller skating and all sorts of fun. Yeah you can do that now, but it's easy when you can just scroll on TikTok for hours, with unlimited movies on streaming websites, and dings of phone notifications every hour. 

Regardless, I am still able to meet some pretty awesome friends, even if we aren't in the 80's. I am still able to find my place in my generation, disregarding what trendy things people my age do these days. 

Today, I've been constantly playing "Mama Mia" by Abba on repeat. And "There is a Light that never goes out" by The Smiths. The 80's will always hold a special place in my heart, even if I was born in 2002. 

Favorite movies even when no one asked:

1. The Sure Thing 

2. Pretty Woman 

3. Pretty in Pink 

4. The Breakfast Club 

5. Can't buy me love

Just watched Sleepless in Seattle tonight with Tom Hanks! It was really good! 

Karina Ip     February 9th, 2025