How can it be 40 years?

Little did I realise when I was writing yesterday’s blog post about feeling old that I had missed the 40th anniversary of Footloose.

How can it be 40 years?!

Footloose was a big one for teenaged me. From the opening scenes I was completely obsessed with both the movie and Kevin Bacon.

Kev played Ren McCormack, a Chicago teen with cool moves who went to live in a conservative small town where dancing was outlawed. Ren made friends with a cowboy called Willard (Chris Penn), butted heads with powerful town preacher Reverend Moore (John Lithgow) and fell in love with his rebellious daughter Ariel (Lori Singer), whose best friend was Rusty (Sarah Jessica Parker).

The soundtrack, the dance scenes and sexy Kev were a compelling combination for a hormonal teenager.

All that sweaty dancing and teen angst crammed into such tight, high-waisted jeans …

After ponying up the admission price for Footloose around ooooh 10 times, I lay in bed every night praying fervently to God to let me meet Kevin Bacon.

When I lived in New York, God kind of answered my prayers. I didn’t get to meet Kevin Bacon, but I did get to see him in the flesh. 

I took the kids to a festive celebration called Winter’s Eve at Lincoln Square. His band, The Bacon Brothers, were headlining the entertainment.

Loved it.

That was waaaaaaay back around 2007. Kevin is now 65 and Lori Singer is 66.

Jump back!

I feel 66 this morning because I’ve spent the last two nights sleeping on the youngest’s mattress, which is one of those ones you purchase in a long, narrow box and swells into shape when you release and unfurl it.

The youngest assured me it was super comfortable compared to the decrepit one she’s been assigned at uni. But it is killing my sacrum and the pain has been waking me at regular intervals over the last two nights. So tonight will be spent hefting mattresses between bedrooms.

Can’t wait!

Despite my aching back, I don’t want to be 16 again. Too much angst, which is ironic considering there’s still a fair bit of it now, at age 55.

I reckon I was at my peak when I was in my early 30s and living in Singapore, editing the local edition of Cleo. Ah, those were the carefree days!

But I didn’t have DD or the kids back then, so that’s out. I wouldn’t swap them for a younger version of me.

So I’ll just have to settle for sorting out better back support and planning my next holiday.

Oh and here’s a video of a flash mob celebrating the 40th anniversary of Footloose to brighten your morning …