Remembering the 1990's

 

This was NOT my living room.

I never had a wrap-around couch in the 1990's. Instead, I had bought some old couch from my mother and step-dad, along with a VCR and old 27 inch TV set. That VCR was legendary, not only was it VHS, but it had Dolby Stereo Sound. 

I didn't have much back then. It was my first "real" apartment in Winnipeg. It was a 1 bedroom bachelor, with a tiny kitchen, 1 bedroom, and living room. It had this weird collapsible divider that separated the tiny dining room from the living room. Back then, my rent was $430 a month, and I was not rich - and never was. 

I remember selling my old Amiga 500 computer system to some random stranger for $130 - which was quite a deal back then. It was a cozy apartment, and in that time I was working as a Slot 3 Technician at a local casino named Club Regent. The year was 1993, and oh boy, was I ever going to learn about how the world worked.

I had basic cable. This allowed me to tape my favorite TV shows like The X-Files and COPS on the regular. Strangely, I never had my friends over very often. They were too busy with their own lives, doing whatever they wanted. 

This is the stark reality I learned very early living on my own: Your friends and family? Not who you think they are. And honestly, it's better to know where you truly stand than live in a complete set of lies.

Back to the early 1990's. I had a stereo connected to the VCR, which made listening to television more enjoyable. Mind you, I never blasted music at any time.

I would head out to a few country bars every Friday or Saturday evening - never to drink more than a beer or two. I was trying to meet someone, but holy crap, was it difficult! I learned how to 2-step by purchasing a how-to VCR tape using my visa card. I can't believe I had a Visa card back then, but I rarely used it - the debt scared me.

And it still does to this day.

And now, thinking back - I've come full circle. I'm kind of living in that 1990's bubble where I haven't met anyone nice since Theresa past away in 2019 - and man, is it difficult to find someone nice. I haven't given up, though. 

Oh sure, I'd go to movies every now and then with friends, but honestly, it was a great time when it lasted. We would head to a local VHS rental place called Movie Village or whatever it was called & rent 2 movies, buy chips, and a slurpee. We would always go out and buy fries and chili from Fat Boys on Main Street. (They're still there, apparently).

And although the times have changed, and I'm 30+ years older, I haven't changed much. I'm a bit more seasoned and nice compared to how I used to be.

Thanks for reading!