Hey folks. It’s amazing how a site like this brings together people of all ages, cultures, and walks of life. As a diversion to break the monotony of measuring out my liquids and Protein post-op, I thought it would be fun to reminisce about what shaped us all through the years -- not literally (because that would be things like too much bad food and lack of exercise, or having kids LOL!), but from a pop culture standpoint. I’m sure another thread like this is somewhere on these forums but after a quick search I couldn’t find exactly what I was looking for… I think this one is different than the pinned “Who Are You?” thread.

(oh, and please note the generations listed above are loose years and may not be agreed upon by all – just needed some ranges to fit into a poll format. And I know in many other countries these generations are quite different in names and year ranges. This poll was meant for fun and diversion and certainly not intended to insult any person or group.)

I’ll start it off…

I’m a Gen X-er. A child of the 80’s. I watched cartoons like Voltron, Transformers, GI Joe, He-Man, and Thundercats as a kid. TV favorites evolved through the years: Family Ties --> Perfect Strangers --> Saved by the Bell --> Cheers --> Seinfeld --> Entourage --> Curb Your Enthusiasm . And now to the present favs: (The Office/Parks & Rec/How I Met Your Mother/The Big Bang Theory/Louie)

Music influences as a kid/tween: hair Metal (Poison, Whitesnake, Motley Crue, Def Leppard, Guns N Roses, Bon Jovi) and also U2

High School: Grunge (Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, Smashing Pumpkins) and U2

College: Dave Matthews, Rusted Root, Green Day, Weezer, Radiohead… and U2

Young Adulthood-present: Staind, Linkin Park, The White Stripes, The Lonely Island, and of course U2

Defining Movies:

Childhood – Goonies, Stand By Me, Breakfast Club

High School/College – Silence of the Lambs, American Pie, Shawshank Redemption, Austin Powers

Young Adult-Present: pretty much any Todd Phillips, Farrelly Brothers, or Judd Apatow movie

Finally, since I’m quite partial to funny things (as you may or may not have guessed):

The title of funniest comedian alive as it evolved through my eyes went something like this:

Richard Pryor --> Eddie Murphy --> Jerry Seinfeld --> Chris Rock --> Louie CK (current titleholder), although I hold a special place for Gabriel Iglesias since, like me, he's not fat... he's FLUFFY!

There’s plenty I’ve left out. Feel free to rant, rave, add your own memories, pop culture, places, people, political/global events, or otherwise. I look forward to reading people’s responses!

Now it’s time to go sip some more protein….

Another baby boomer, 1948.

Grew up in the Bay Area, Mickey Mouse Club, Bonanza, Ed Sullivan.

Music was definitely the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Jefferson Airplane and all the San Francisco sound. Lived in the Haight and Big Sur, then settled down, still in the Bay Area.

Happily retired at 55 when my husband and I took off for 5 years in a motor home. Loved New Mexico, Utah, the whole southwest.

Now back in the Bay Area, readying the house for sale and readying my body for the remainder of my great life with surgery scheduled for November 21.

Looking forward to going on the road again as a healthier person, able to do so many things I couldn't last time.

That's my story and I'm stickin' to it!

Kate