Feeling nostalgic

It started with a very brief Twitter conversation with my friend Michael. I had tweeted (twatted if you are my grandfather) that I was on a huge Harry Potter kick and wanted to reread the series (I had started this past semester, but I ended up getting busy with school work and being an RA and whatnot); I am determined to finish the series by the end of summer or at the very latest before the first part of the 7th movie comes out.

Michael replied to that Tweet and said an old friend reminded him of another series from his youth that he needed to reread. That got me thinking about my favorite books of my childhood. Thiefirst books that I became obsessed with was The Baby-Sitter's Club series. Every time a new one came out, I had to get it right away. My grandpa and I went to Barnes and Nobel at least once a week and that's where my obsession started. Part of the reason I loved it so much was because I had just started baby-sitting my little cousins. My friend Amber and I even wanted to start our own baby-sitter's club. It never did turn out though, sadly.

I loved the books because I could relate to almost every character. Kristy was the tom-boy leader of the group. She came up with the idea of the club. She was a young businesswoman. Claudia was the fun, artsy person of the group. I usually liked the books that centered around her the most. She was just fun. Mary-Ann was the shy, sweet one. She also dated Logan (whom I was in LOVE with in the movie adaptation of the series).  Stacey was a New Yorker and diabetic. I don't know why that was important to write, but I do remember that about her. She left Stoney Brooke to go back to New York after her father gets transferred back there, but moves back to Stoney Brooke after her parents divorce. Dawn was the California girl. She was portrayed as a health nut and environmentalist. I believe that she was vegetarian as well, but I could be wrong. Mallory came from the huge ass family and, at 11-years-old, was one of the younger members of the group. I think she also got mono at one point. Jessi moved from Jersey to Stoney Brooke. I think she also really liked ballet. Logan was Mary-Ann's boyfriend and that's all I really remember about him. Those are all the main characters, I think.

I actually was in Border's the other day (shocker!) and saw that they have reprinted the books. I saw the very first one on the shelf of books recommended by the staff. I was pumped when I saw it. I miss those books a lot. They got me through grade school and middle school. This may sound dumb, but I felt like I was part of the club when I read those books. Middle school especially sucked for me, so reading those books was an amazing escape. I needed extra cash so I sold a lot of the books, which I now regret horribly. However, they are reprinting the books and I think I may need to purchase them. I did save my favorite ones, but now I wish I would have them in case I have a daughter someday so she could read them. I hope with the reprint that a whole new generation will enjoy them as much as I did.