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To each their own, but when it comes to 90s culture there’s more similar common ground among the 90s childs. You already know… you already know.
Countless trips were taken back and forth between Rochester in Minnesota and La Crosse, WI. Putting La Crosse in a relative context, they have ‘the largest six pack of beer‘ in the world, located by Dave’s Guitar Shop and a hospital. It was always there in the 90s and a landmark I took for granted.
My Mom’s side of the family lives in La Crosse, and most of them still do. My oldest aunt is a fan of Ace of Base, and her favorite song is probably ‘All That She Wants’. They looked so simple in that music video, like women you would find in a coffee shop on a random day, unlike today where female singers are glamorized.
Ace of Base was more of a hit than a miss for most I presume, despite recording the same beat on much of their catalog.
Let’s Make One Thing Clear..
I didn’t appreciate most of the songs that were played on the radio then, surprisingly. Almost every ‘billboard chart‘ hit I met with resistance and a few dry heaves. My taste was in the classic rock category. Bands like The Doors, Led Zeppelin, and the Rolling Stones were it.
Looking back it was maybe the most diverse display of influences in music; and the most genuine. I will never regret any song I listened to that leaked through my Mom’s ’93 LeBaron.
When I was in the Chrysler with her I almost instantly repelled the songs from the chosen station, because they were more ‘bubble-gummish‘ in sound rather than guitar driven, and it didn’t help when she tried to sing along to Kiss From a Rose, Killing Me Softly, Coco Jamboo, Who Let the Dogs Out?, or Monifa’s Touch It!
The Pokemon Buzz
I drank way too much tap water after recess in elementary school.. Somewhere amidst all that chlorine -between 2nd and 3rd grade- were Pokemon cards in abudance. They would be handed out like no one’s business.
At the height of their popularity I finally persuaded my dad to drive down to Toys “R” Us and buy a starter deck. It was the last set available before a woman and her son showed up, inevitably too late.
We didn’t have a clue how to play the game properly, however, we more than enjoyed trading them. If I had it my way, I would buy the set and some packs all over again, and hoard them.
[dropshadowbox align=”left” effect=”lifted-both” width=”250px” height=”” background_color=”#ffffff” border_width=”1″ border_color=”#dddddd” ]In 2nd grade I made a trade with one of my classmates, knowing full well I had the upper hand, but later the kid tattled on the teacher and I had to give the card back… yea.[/dropshadowbox]
No Goosebumps
My one encounter with the book series wasn’t reading through them, but getting a book signed by the man himself, RL Stine, at the Valley Fair amusement park in Shakopee, MN.
I showed up late as they were cleaning up and two men were standing next to each other and I asked one of them if this book was really signed by the author. He assured me it was, slightly chuckling. My hindsight hints that the man next to him was in fact, RL Stine.
Mario was Super
Me and my brother had to read to ‘get enough minutes’ to play video games after we started to take advantage of the console. That was the rule our Mom made as an incentive. However much we read, would equal the amount of time we were allowed behind the controllers. Reading 30 minutes was a popular increment.
Besides Super Nintendo, N64 was the best thing ever! Me and my brother would beat Mario Kart to the ground and Rush 2: Extreme Racing USA was insanely addicting!
And I gained all 120 stars in Super Mario 64. Were there more than that?
We never had VH1, Nickolodeon, or MTV but would catch glimpses through the tube at our babysitters. Lots of 90s memories over there.
More Errands?
Tuesday Morning, TJ Maxx, Econo Foods (when PS1 and N64 games were still rentable), and Rainbow Foods were all part of the errand runs. Thanks, Mom..
This article is subject to editing. More memories are bound to be remembered and expanded on. Too much to regurgitate in one sitting. I think you’ll understand!
Teaser photo by aqsahu of Flickr under a “CC by 2.0” license