When did I get this old?

You know a month ago I had the gall to ask my mother if she felt old now that all of her children were legal adults. I hadn't much thought about Cody turning 18 until suddenly it's a week before my own birthday. It's not even the fact that he's 18 that makes me feel old. It's the fact that he's a senior. I remember being a senior. As I watch Cody go through the rites of passage that are one's senior year I can't help but reflect on my own.

And I can't help but think of how different the world is now from when I was a senior. Here are a few things I remember. (Okay not all of these are exclusive to my senior year, but they're things I remember from high school.)

"Friends" was the world's favorite TV show. Lisa Marie Presley & Michael Jackson were still married. (Though not for long. Thank goodness they ended that freak show!) You could still escort someone to their gate at the airport. And meet them there. Quebec tried to negotiate a secession from Canada (no I'm not kidding, that really happened.) The Dallas Cowboys asserted dominance on the football field. (Bachelor Quarterback Troy Aikman was reportedly linked to every single female celebrity who set foot in the state of Texas.) Madonna got pregnant and then starred in the movie version of "Evita" anyway. The president of the United States was impeached because of a sex scandal. George Clooney was still on ER. ER was still a new show. The Prime Minister of Israel was assisinated. The Smashing Pumpkins reigned supreme in the music world with "Melancholy and the Infinite Sadness." The federal government shut down (National Parks and Museums were even closed) due to a standoff between democrats and republicans about the budget. Denzel Washington was People's "Sexiest Man Alive" (a title he took from previous holder Brad Pitt.) Bob Dole ran against incumbent president Clinton, but there was also a third Independent candidate in the ballot, Ross Perot. Ripped jeans, Doc Martins and flannel shirts were a fashion statement. Ted Kazinsky (aka the Unibomber) was identified and caught. Tupac was still alive. Boyz 2 Men were still cool. Will Smith was still "The Fresh Prince." Pete Sampras was the world's dominant tennis player. The world welcomed a new James Bond (Pierce Brosnan in Goldeneye.) All college bound girls of the era could on some level relate to Tori Amos. The only wars we ever talked about were in places with names like Bosnia and Serbia and Herzegovina. "Toy Story" blew us all away with it's computer animation. A bomb in a briefcase exploded on a double decker bus in London. Action films Batman Forever, Independence Day and Twister provided us with soundtrack albums we all bought on CD's. Cloning became a scary reality with "Dolly" the sheep. The movie "Se7en" had us talking (and freaked out) for days. We thought Brad Pitt and Gwyneth Paltrow were destined to get married and have the world's most beautiful babies. We couldn't figure out why Alanis Morrisette was so angry, but we bought the CD anyway. The Menendez brothers were convicted of murder. O.J. Simpson wasn't. The Oklahoma City bombing was the tragedy that had us all stunned. The Chicago Bulls won the first of what would become their 2nd 3 Peat with Michael Jordan at the helm. Michael Jordan was the most recognizable face on the planet. (No one had even heard of Tiger Woods, Roger Federer or David Beckham yet.)

But enough of my reminiscing. I can't remember anymore right now anyway. I'm sure I will as I lie awake in bed tonight. I'll probably think of many things I should have included that would have been better, but oh well. For midnight ramblings these won't be too bad.

At any rate, back to my original point, enjoy these pictures I stole from mom's blog of Cody as a cheerleader for the Powder Puff football game. They're quite amusing. At least some things never change. High schools will always have silly traditions like this to pass along.