Advice to my (18 year-old) self
Feb. 15th, 2005 06:26 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
urbpanOn the occasion of my mother's 70th birthday, I've decided to travel back in time to give my 18 year-old self advice that she might have given me if she was able to. (My mother suffers from Alzheimer's disease, which onset quite early.)
Food:
Cultivate a taste for rice and beans, not because you may someday become vegetarian, but because it's cheap as all get-out. A rice cooker is about 20 bucks (in 1987 dollars), ditto a coffee-maker. The two appliances will pay for themselves in about three weeks, especially if you don't rely on Cajun Joe's chicken wings to survive. Go find someone with dreadlocks to tell you where this "food co-op" is. Eat fresh vegetables. Bell peppers taste good raw.
School:
Major in ceramics. You may get tempted to do this "interrelated media" thing, but trust me kid, you'll be happier in the long run with your hands in clay. If--I mean--WHEN, you graduate, you'll actually know how to make something, too. Hell, you could possibly make money doing it. You might think about taking a computer class, by the way. When they offer something called "web design," go for it.
Drugs:
Knock off the booze. Carbonated raspberry wine? Save your money, trust me. In a few years you'll know what's good to drink. Smoke the pot that comes your way, sure. And start taking acid. It'll help your artwork (can't hurt) and it's cheap as dirt. The booze just saps your strength and money--only drink it when it's free.
Love and Romance:
Call it off with the high school girlfriend. The sooner the better. You aren't doing each other any favors. She's in college, too, and you both have a lot of exploring to do. Be yourself, relax, and have fun.
Transportation:
Keep that black Motobecane in good shape. Putting a couple hundred bucks worth of maintenance into it every year is well worth it. Get a good lock for it, and don't leave it behind in any apartments. Get yourself a helmet and some lights, too. Watch out for car doors--don't ride too close to the side. Trust me on that one.
Clothes and Grooming:
Continue to cultivate the mohawk. It looks cool now, and someday you aren't going to have enough hair there to spike up. Get some color in that thing, too--but they won't make a really good blue until the 90's. Find out where Goodwills and Salvation Army's are and start buying your own clothes, for crying out loud.
The City:
It's cool isn't it? Enjoy it every way you can. Remember how much you loved the swamps and woods when you were a little kid? Guess what--there are woods around Boston, too. Get out there and make yourself happy.
Living Arrangements:
Be happy that you have your brother there. Sure it makes you feel less independent, but you have to honor his wisdom, and appreciate his friendship. If you do move to different apartments, under NO CIRCUMSTANCES move to East Boston. Move to Allston, Somerville, or Jamaica Plain only.
Family:
Call your parents every week. Tell you mother that she loves you. One day, it will be the last thing you say to her that she understands.
Food:
Cultivate a taste for rice and beans, not because you may someday become vegetarian, but because it's cheap as all get-out. A rice cooker is about 20 bucks (in 1987 dollars), ditto a coffee-maker. The two appliances will pay for themselves in about three weeks, especially if you don't rely on Cajun Joe's chicken wings to survive. Go find someone with dreadlocks to tell you where this "food co-op" is. Eat fresh vegetables. Bell peppers taste good raw.
School:
Major in ceramics. You may get tempted to do this "interrelated media" thing, but trust me kid, you'll be happier in the long run with your hands in clay. If--I mean--WHEN, you graduate, you'll actually know how to make something, too. Hell, you could possibly make money doing it. You might think about taking a computer class, by the way. When they offer something called "web design," go for it.
Drugs:
Knock off the booze. Carbonated raspberry wine? Save your money, trust me. In a few years you'll know what's good to drink. Smoke the pot that comes your way, sure. And start taking acid. It'll help your artwork (can't hurt) and it's cheap as dirt. The booze just saps your strength and money--only drink it when it's free.
Love and Romance:
Call it off with the high school girlfriend. The sooner the better. You aren't doing each other any favors. She's in college, too, and you both have a lot of exploring to do. Be yourself, relax, and have fun.
Transportation:
Keep that black Motobecane in good shape. Putting a couple hundred bucks worth of maintenance into it every year is well worth it. Get a good lock for it, and don't leave it behind in any apartments. Get yourself a helmet and some lights, too. Watch out for car doors--don't ride too close to the side. Trust me on that one.
Clothes and Grooming:
Continue to cultivate the mohawk. It looks cool now, and someday you aren't going to have enough hair there to spike up. Get some color in that thing, too--but they won't make a really good blue until the 90's. Find out where Goodwills and Salvation Army's are and start buying your own clothes, for crying out loud.
The City:
It's cool isn't it? Enjoy it every way you can. Remember how much you loved the swamps and woods when you were a little kid? Guess what--there are woods around Boston, too. Get out there and make yourself happy.
Living Arrangements:
Be happy that you have your brother there. Sure it makes you feel less independent, but you have to honor his wisdom, and appreciate his friendship. If you do move to different apartments, under NO CIRCUMSTANCES move to East Boston. Move to Allston, Somerville, or Jamaica Plain only.
Family:
Call your parents every week. Tell you mother that she loves you. One day, it will be the last thing you say to her that she understands.
no subject
Date: 2005-02-16 03:41 pm (UTC)I don't think you needed any help in the clothes and grooming dept. though, you were quite stylin'. (I, on the other hand, could have used hours and hours of advice, and you have the photos to prove it.) You've got to admit living in Eastie provided wonderful anecdotes, and at least we didn't take the one in Somerville with the pressboard walls providing refuge to billions of cockroaches.
I feel lucky and honored to have known you all this time.
-B
P.S.- could you add something in there about under no circumstances introducing me to your brother's college roomate?
:)
no subject
Date: 2005-02-16 05:58 pm (UTC)I don't think you can totally blame me for that. It's not as if I offered my approval, either!
I feel lucky and honored to have known you all this time.
Right back atcha, man. I love you.
no subject
Date: 2005-02-17 02:18 pm (UTC)I love you too, dude.
Hiya Andy! Actually, he was a pretty good boyfriend, aside from the various toolish qualities. :)
tapered, like a dogs
Date: 2005-02-17 09:26 am (UTC)-Andy
Re: tapered, like a dogs
Date: 2005-02-17 02:20 pm (UTC)-B
damn you
Date: 2005-02-17 09:29 am (UTC)-F
P.S. Wisdom? Which brother are we talking about here? Was there another one I didn't know about?