During this period of current bonkersness (surely this will make it into the Oxford English Dictionary this year!), I’ve found myself getting increasingly nostalgic. I think it comes about for a variety of reasons – not being able to get home and see my family; seeing on social media that my school friends were feeling the same, and therefore thinking about those friends; thinking about the teenagers who must have been one of the most affected demographics of lockdown, and remembering how tough teen years are in a normal world, nevermind amongst all this. Whatever has triggered it, the nostalgia is at an all time high right now!
I suspect I’m not the only one who’s been feeling like this because I’ve connected more with old school friends over this time than I have for ages – and it’s been lovely. I don’t mean we’ve been messaging each other relentless over the last few months, but sharing the odd memory on a Facebook post, adding a supportive comment, having a little giggle. And, maybe I’m reading too much into it, but it feels like we’ve reminded ourselves of those ‘glory years’!
Regardless of why, this nostalgia has found me planning an ’80s themed party for my upcoming birthday. Obviously, ‘party’ is stretching the definition to the absolute limit, since it will just be 3 of us, but actually this suits me perfectly. I get to plan and make a load of fun nostalgic decorations, make a playlist that would have made my 10 year old self’s ears burst with excitement (aside: my 10th birthday party was an ’80s disco in our front room with me ‘DJing’ on my mum’s record player with my prized collection of singles and three different coloured light bulbs in our overhead light!), plan a photo booth with suitably eighties accessories, and generally just find utter joy in re-creating everything that represented my childhood.
Since I still have some eighties style clothes and accessories from a themed gig I did with my band some years ago, I shall add a few neon items about my person too – although I may be alone in that! And I’ll crank up the record player with my period appropriate records and re-live my 10th birthday party, but with the addition of a photo booth that only I will want to use 🙂 Watch this space for ’80s themed self portraits soon!
For those who wish to relive the ’80s, or for those unlucky enough to have been born after this glorious (if uncoordinated) decade, here’s a playlist of school disco-approved tracks 🙂
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2BKUZmQ0kPRkFMdCrBUENx?si=FjoUyZTWT4u8xQti6JYAyg
If I’ve missed anything vital off the playlist, you have any suggestions for party decorations or you just want to join in the nostalgia, please leave a comment.
Stay safe and dance like no-one is watching.
Clare McEwen Photography 