I've often wondered if I was born in the wrong generation.  Perhaps I've just got a fixation with decades gone by, that I didn't see or experience.  This is entirely possible, but somewhere in my gut is a little person constantly remind me that I was probably born at least a century too late.  A century, you ask?  Yes, a century.  Each time period from probably 1860 onward has something incredibly alluring to me, (with the possible exception of the 1930s...can't say I'd want to experience the Great Depression).  For me, the biggest perk of being alive during those time periods is of course, the culture.  Sure, women were oppressed for a good deal of it, but things were so much more luxuriant, more formal and a lot more polite.  Maybe a lot of people find this propriety dull, but it the thought of it enthralls me.

     I suppose the biggest reason I'd love to have been born pre-1900 is simply that some of the greatest literature is from that time period.  Oscar Wilde was born 1854, died in 1900- to be alive as he climbed to fame would have been nothing short of amazing.  Dostoyevsky, Dickens, Poe, Dickinson, Twain, James- all writers alive during the 19th Century.  Maybe that makes me a huge nerd, but I can't help it.

     The 20th Century would be awesome to see in its early stages.  It is the foundation of our culture today, and I'd love to see it.  It's the transition between the strict Victorian culture into the vibrance of the 1920s, with Prohibition, speakeasies and flappers.  Even though at the time it was rather sleazy, it was still the height of excitement, flashy and gaudy, (in the best way possible).

     The 30s...eh, the Great Depression.  Away from the happiness and prosperity of the 20s.  The 40s and the 50s, that prosperity returned, and WWII occurred.  Granted, WWII is not anything to be excited about, but it was monumental.  Despite having to live in fear, I think it would be cool.  Also, the culture of the 50s was really interesting.

     But here come the decades I'd have the hardest time deciding between.  The 60s, 70s and 80s.  The 60s was by far the best decade for music, or at least that's what I've come to decide.  Legendary bands and acts rose up from obscurity: The Who, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, The Doors, The Rolling Stones, CCR, Bob Dylan, Jefferson Airplane, The Kinks, The Velvet Underground...it's a dream.  Being able to go to the first Woodstock in 1969...I would have loved to have been a part of that culture.  To see and experience those people live that I will never have the opportunity to today.

     The 70s, (assuming I'd still love to be part of that counterculture) would probably be similar to the 60s.  I'd be able to see AC/DC, Deep Purple, Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, Journey, Boston, Rush, Steely Dan all in their prime.  The Ramones started up too...I'd kill to be able to see them when they first started playing.  Them and like, Elvis Costello.

     And the 80's for me would just be flat out fun to live in.  Day-Glo, punk rock, big hair and hair bands...compared to nowadays, it seems so carefree, so much more extravagant.  And there's so many 80s One-Hit-Wonders, so many insane fads I'd get to take part in, and not to mention half my mom's clothes would be in style again.

Basically, yeah, I was definitely born in the wrong decade.  Of course, there's a lot more to them than I've mentioned, but these aspects seem so interesting to me, that I would give practically anything to just live in them, even if for a day.  But until someone builds a time machine or I magically stumble across Doctor Who and his TARDIS, I guess I'll just have to make do with the decade I've been given.