PERSPECTIVES The Michigan Daily Thursday, January 26, 1989 Pogo 5 Of Oreo cookies (with milk) BY ANDREW GOTTESMAN This space is usually reserved for lengthy dissertations on the objectivity of journalism, timely di- atribes on the morality of protest, or "academic" recitations of how deca- dent government can be. Not this time. I'm going to tell you about the joys of Oreos. Oh, and dunking them, too. In other words, we're gonna for- get all that adult-sounding stuff for five minutes, and hopefully be a lit- tle happier for it. Take a break from being grown-up for just a moment and be childish. It's more fun. Way back when I was in high school (it seems like years, but in actuality it's been only seven months), my best friend, Jim, and I ran the student newspaper. He was probably the biggest reason I re- mained sane through many of the more pressure-packed situations, in- eluding biology and college appli- cations. Just when adulthood was knock- ing, telling me to write as many ex- tracurriculars down as I could to en- hance my application, Jim saved me from taking life too seriously. He saved me from being...uh...a mod- em-day adult. What was his wonder-cure for 9 adulthood? Batman. That's right: Batman. You see, Jim would write these articles, which we collectively called the "Childhood File," that included dis- courses on almost anything you hadn't thought about in years: Saturday morning cartoons, comic books, Sesame Street, Babar and, yes, Batman. Admit it. Every one of you has at some time wanted to take Green Eggs and Ham or The Little Engine That Could down off the shelf. Or play with Silly Putty. Or put to- gether a puzzle with only 15 pieces. Those with the big, easy pieces. I'm not advocating living in the past; I don't want to be surrounded by a bunch of screaming nursery schoolers again. Jim simply thought, and he has been proven correct, that by checking in on childhood every so often we can use all that it meant to us in our everyday lives. And I think many people here at the University of Michigan could use a little of that treatment. I see many in our midst who have the "High School Senior (First Term) Syndrome." I see people who have totally forgotten how to be a kid. You know who you are: the ones that take yourselves, and life, a little too seriously. You haven't de- clared a major, but you're already planning how fast, or slow, you'll be able to get an entry-level job after graduation. You've written up an "I'm mad at " form and just fill in the blank later. You've become, dare I say it, a Grown Up, with all the miseries that can accompany the title. You will only be young once, but you can be immature all your life, goes the old saying. And while you are still somewhat young, you should take advantage of both your age and immaturity. Just because one is a college student doesn't mean that one has to grow up. Many here don't, however, seem to think this is the case. For them, college means adulthood; and adult- hood means that they must take an active role in their world. After all, they are fighting to make their own life better now. Yeah, right. I used to collect baseball cards with a passion. Until I was about 14, I spent all the money I had on those little packs of 15 cards, and even chewed the gum. After a while, though, I was able to buy fewer and fewer cards. Why? Because I was growing up. More money was needed for adult things. Money for dates, tapes and clothes. Soon I had stopped collect- ing baseball cards altogether. Until last year. Another friend and I began simply buying cards. Lots of them. Not to collect as investments, but just to buy, open and marvel at. It felt like we were kids again, and it felt good. A few days ago I was buying food for my dorm room. On the counter was none other than a box of this year's baseball cards. I've been buy- ing a few packs every day, just to keep me from going crazy. Unfortunately, however, even baseball cards, that bastion of young adolescence, have become just another stock in the profit market of life. Kids go to these "Baseball Card Conventions" with wads of money spilling out of their jean pockets. Old, fat men, smoking old, fat cigars then charge our young heros hun- dreds of dollars for pieces of card- board. Today's collectors don't flip their cards anymore; God forbid, that might damage them and decrease their value. Now kids keep their cards carefully stored in plastic sheets in a safe closet to appreciate in value. "Wow, Bobby, my cards are worth $4,000 dollars," is heard much more often than, "Look Bobby, this card has my favorite player on it." It's a shame that the newest fans can't enjoy something just for the feeling it gives. Another thing I bought was a bag of Oreo cookies and milk. How many of you used to dunk Oreos back in the days of junior high and even before? How many have taken part in that ritual since entering the so-called "real world?" If not, do you feel more real? I think not. Look, all of us are getting older; nobody is disputing that. Just the other day, in fact, a guy on my hall bought the most recent issue of Playboy. For the first time, those flipping through the pages (ok, they were looking at the pictures; but guys, don't tell me you don't still occasionally do the same thing!) were actually older than the Play- mate of the Month. Now I know how our parents feel when somebody tells them they are old. These girls were always on a pedestal. They were considered al- most unreal. Now they seem a lot more, well, young, and I feel a lot more "grown up." And I don't feel any better for my new-found adulthood. But not to worry, we never actually have to be- come adults. Take some time out. Stop trying to look and act your age. Just for a while, be a kid again, even if you are at college. Everyone has their own "pack of baseball cards" out there somewhere. Take a break from your protest, intellectual argument or worries about the future. Be a kid for a few minutes, or a few hours, or the rest of your life. Look, I got a Spike Owen card! The corners are frayed and it's worth about two cents. Couldn't be better. _ / \ .... .. i i =../"rte Let Them Know How You Feel!! DAILY PERSONALS 764-0557 Cornerstone A i ANk A I 'Y T wi - IM w traditional, sophisticated, contemporary, informal .,.. CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP THEBLACKHEARTS We feature gowns as shown in Modern Bride and Brides Magazine and all the latest styles. 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