Me: [channel surfing...pause]

Her: Wait! Is that Degrassi?!?!?!

Me: I have no idea what you’re talking about?

Her: The Canadian teen soap opera–Degrassi!

It was. And it was awesome. I have a whole new perspective now on Sunday morning television after 2.5 hours of Canadian high school drama… and maybe the tiniest twinge of nostalgia.

I am rarely hit with a strong wave of much of anything for my teenage years. Not that mine were stuff of teen television dramedies. Far from it. But they were a time of confusion and searching and more than a few bad haircuts.

But every now and again, I feel myself pulled back into that world. Going back wouldn’t be so bad if I could go back knowing what I know now, I tell myself. It was kinda nice having my place in the world clearly defined, my place at the lunch table always saved: freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, varsity softball, student council, etc. I now float somewhere between the post-college years (although still in college) and the pre-married years (although not ready to get married), not quite sure where I belong sometimes. The labels are still there, but they no longer have such clear meaning.

In truth, I know I don’t really want to go back. And in greater truth, I quite like this in-between life I now lead. But it’s nice to know that there are high school volleyball games to attend that bring back rose-colored memories of Homecoming dances, bus rides to away games, and Friday nights spent playing Tony Hawk or chatting at Coffee Cartel. And I’m coming to terms with the fact that I will never get over my weakness of young adult fantasy with strong, teen, female characters (thank you, Tamora Pierce). And judging from my sheer adoration of the Dutch movie Dunya & Desie this weekend, I still have a soft spot for films about teenage friendship as well.

Hello, Memory Lane. It’s been a while…