Counter Culture

By Liz Helman

I have action figures on my desk. They are the few and proud that narrowly escaped my mother's cleaning out of my closet, to be resurrected on my desk as cool conversation pieces and homework inspiration.

While Man-at-Arms is in some void after being dropped off into a bag set out for the Salvation Army, Teela, Cringer and He-Man watch me as I sit at my computer and type these columns. So, I was looking at Teela and wondering when I crossed that line. Do you remember the day you decided to stop kneeling on the carpet with plastic crap spread from one end of the room to the other to read Bop magazine and put on makeup instead? I don't understand how my tastes changed so drastically without me even noticing. Sure, it's all "part of growing up" and "people change," but why? Where was it written that lawyers can't ride skateboards to work without being ridiculed by coworkers? I found out (to my excitement) that "The Smurfs" are on the Cartoon Network at lunchtime. I know it's campy, and I know that Gargamel will never catch them. As I've been a loyal viewer for the last week while I eat my mac and cheese, I have been incredibly entertained by the mediocre animation and simplistic story lines. It's gotten me to wonder why I ever decided that drinking alcohol until it hurt was more fun than slumber parties and truth or dare. I mean, the worst thing that ever happened at a slumber party was your friends finding out you liked some guy - and that beats a monster hangover any day. So do I want to be a kid again? Hell no! Driving is way too cool. Besides, now I can stay up as late as I want, eat candy for dinner and blow all my money on Beanie Babies.

Liz Helman is a senior English major.