Who did you want to be, when playing pretend with your friends? Was it the Bionic Woman or the Six Million Dollar Man? How many desperately wanted to be Wonder Woman, with the awesome bullet-deflecting cuff bracelets? Did you fight with friends over which A Team character you would play?
My after-school adventures, when I was saving the world from bad guys, usually involved Charlie’s Angels. It was never easy to sort out who would be each of the Angels so we could start playing. Fighting often ensued over which Angel the other girls would be. I was always the Angel I wanted to be, not because I bullied the girls into allowing me, but because no one wanted to fight me over my favorite Angel: Sabrina. The smart one. The least glamorous one. The anti-fluffy hair one. The awesome, orange Pinto-driving one.
Why am I blogging about this?
Isn’t that what is coming to mind at this point in my story?
There really is a point to this. I promise.
This week a friend and I have been exchanging texts of random facts from our childhood. It has been fun all week to hear the iPhone text ring and know something insignificant about him awaited (he liked salting slugs). After sharing the information about Sabrina, I realized there is no irony in the choice I made as a child; I was striving to be a strong, capable woman at an early age. I wanted to be the smartest, most independent, and capable Angel in the bunch. This thought, 35 years later, has put a smile on my face all week.
Why?
Because I still think being smart, independent, and capable is something to strive for in me and admire in others. These are also qualities I am trying to instill in my daughter.
The only thing that has changed, 35 years later, is that I no longer covet her wardrobe or want to drive an orange Ford Pinto. I am, however, still searching for Wonder Woman’s bullet-deflecting cuff bracelets. Now THAT would be the most awesome fashion accessory ever. Seriously.
Here’s a video I found that highlights Sabrina, the super-cool Angel of the 70’s. It is set to Dolly Parton’s song “9 to 5,” which adds even a bit more campiness to this video experience.
Who were you when you played pretend with your friends?
Are there any similarities today?
Note: This piece today was inspired by the writing prompt at Studio30 Plus this week. The prompt: Irony
Great post.
I always wanted to be spiderman, but I am having trouble now getting the web to come out.
Never give up Justin! Focus and perseverance and I know you can shoot webs soon.
Hang in there.
I wanted to screw the 6 Million Dollar Man’s brains out even before I knew what that meant, which would have been quite an accomplishment considering his abilities. So I generally wanted to be Farrah just for that reason, but I really liked the Bionic Woman. I always wanted the two of them to end up together. Can you imagine what sex would have been like with those two?!
Yeah, I would have liked for it to work out for me with 6 Million Dollar Man too. He was a hottie!
When I was five, I wanted to be a stripper because strippers could be naked at work. I hadn’t really worked out the rest of the details.
Wow! Stripper, huh? I think you get the prize for, um, most creative?
While I loved to pretend, I didn’t so much pretend to be specific characters as I chose generic–but, hopefully, imaginative–identities.
The fictional role model I chose, however, doomed me in a sense. No one could be as selfless, forgiving and saintly as Melanie Hamilton from “Gone with the Wind.” I saw the movie, for the first time, when I was six, and believed such goodness was possible despite its fictional origin.
I spent years trying, failing horribly and being angry at myself for not being able to be like Melanie. Sabrina was a much better choice.
Great, thought-provoking post!
Susan,
Bad choice with aspiring to be Melanie, but so glad you gave up and can enjoy life now!
I always wanted to be batman. I liked that he was a regular guy, he didn’t have super powers he had cool gadgets and trained himself physically and intellectually. I guess I liked the idea of standing up for what you believe in and making change instead of hoping for change. I do not see any similarities now or then. For me it’s what I aspire to.
Spencer,
Batman is an awesome choice! I bet you have more of Batman’s qualities than you are letting on to with this comment.
We lived in the hills and therefore did not get the fancy TV channels. If it didn’t come on PBS, then I didn’t know it existed. Although I use to pretend Kermit was my boyfriend. I would have so roasted that pig to get her out of my way.
Maasiyat,
This comment made my day! You are so funny.
I wanted to be Walter Cronkite. Or Evel Knievel. It was a toss up.
What range in your aspirations ET. Very impressive.
There must be something wrong with me. For as long as
I can remember, I always wanted to be a nurse, and became one. It wasn’t until Adulthood that I wanted to bring that fantasy
into the bedroom, kinda like the french maid. lol
So then you are living your dream BA. Good for you!
I wanted to be the young Elvis. When he was 21 in 1956. I am a girl. I didn’t care. I wanted to be him.
A young Elvis is an interesting choice. I love it!