By Heidi Hamm
I wish I could blame it on some weird time/space continuum thing. Or that I have somehow been teleported far into the future. Or that the earth has been knocked off of its axis and time has suddenly sped up, and a day is now only 12 hours long. Or aliens have taken over my brain, altered my reality and I am living out visions of the future.
Anything.
Anything but the cold hard reality that Harry Potter, The Philosopher’s Stone, is 20 years old and therefore, I am old.
Don’t get me wrong. I am a huge fan of the Harry Potter books and J.K. Rowling. She opened up an amazing world of magic that took millions of us outside of our every day. I’m not ashamed to admit that I read the first book on my commute to and from work, even before the publisher changed the cover to make it appear more “adult.” And whether you want to admit it or not, I was not the only one.
But 20 years ago? Seriously? This wasn’t something that I really needed to hear this morning as I examined the appearance of my latest wrinkle marching across my skin and started Googling Botox.
To torture myself even further, I decided to take a walk down memory lane and check out what else was happening in the world in 1997. Because apparently, it’s been 20 years.
According to the Chinese zodiac, it was the Year of the Ox.
Bill Clinton was president.
Timothy McVeigh was found guilty in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing and was sentenced to death.
The Detroit Red Wings swept the Philadelphia Flyers to win the Stanley Cup.
Mike Tyson bit off part of Evander Holyfield’s ear during a WBA heavy weight fight.
Puff Daddy (later known as Sean Combs, Puffy, Diddy and P.Diddy) had two chart-topping songs: “Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down” (with Mase) and “I’ll Be Missing You” (with Faith Evans).
The Spice Girls were a global sensation and young girls everywhere were screaming about Girl Power!
And who can forget one of the most annoying songs to ever be stuck in your head by boy band Hanson? Ah yes, “Mmmbop.” The song no one actually knows the lyrics to. Until now. You’re welcome.
Mmmbop, ba duba dop
Ba du bop, ba duba dop
Ba du bob, ba duba dop
Ba du, yeah (Courtesy of Google Play Music.)
Also, 1997? Two virtual unknown Hollywood actors became stars when their movie, Good Will Hunting, hit screens. Yup, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck.
Titanic was released and became one of the highest-grossing movies of all time. And everyone fell in love with Jack.
Television viewers were introduced to Ally McBeal, South Park, and Buffy The Vampire Slayer.
Two years after its debut, “The Rachel” was still one of the most popular hairstyles.
Fashion trends included: Velvet everything. Platform sneakers. Metallic lipstick. Chokers. Slip dresses. Denim on denim. Overalls. Crop tops and track pants. Come to think of it, it would appear as though 1997 is seeing a revival.
The good news is that I remember 1997 as if it were yesterday. It would seem that despite my age, my long-term memory is still intact. The bad news is that somehow I blinked and 20 years have flown by. At this rate, I’ll blink and my kids will be grown. I’ll blink again and they will have put me into assisted living. Blink again and I’ll be standing in front of the pearly gates.
I need to stop blinking.
*****
About the Author
Heidi Hamm is a writer, wife and mom to twin boys with the alter egos of the Hulk and SpiderMan, and their older sister, who is in training to rule a small (or large) country someday. She has been published on Scary Mommy, Sammiches & Psych Meds, Her View From Home, and Mamalode.