To start off, I want to quote J. Cole in saying, "First thing's first, rest in peace Uncle Phil." This small collection of words is a great embodiment of what the 90's are to so many people. It's funny to think, in retrospect, that the great decade of the 90's started over twenty five years ago. I find myself and my friends looking fondly at this set of years as we lived through them and even trying to relive them. Although my time in the 90's was limited to three years, the things that I remember have stuck with me for the rest of my life. What are some of the great things the 90's brought us? Let's take a walk down memory lane.

Growing up in the 90's was a more simple life than the world we live in today. At the turn of the century technological advances exploded making the world immensely more complex. Pre-technological explosion life consisted of plenty of time spent on the sit-and-spin, swing set, play carpets, the playground, and plenty of other great activities. These were all toys and activities that were open ended and left you to run wild with your imagination. When life was still relatively simple, the biggest problem you had to worry about was how to button your overalls or getting strangled by the phone chord while your mom was talking to someone. Joyful moments may have come from listening to books on tape in the car or popping a movie into the good ole VHS.

Media of the 90's deserves its own recognition. Some of my all-time favorite shows and movies were born in this fantastic decade. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Everybody Loves Raymond, Flubber, The Shawshank Redemption, and The Matrix were all incredible works of film and cinematography to name a few. On the kids side of events, shows such as Rugrats, Rocket Power, Recess, The Wild Thornberrys, Hey Arnold!, Arthur, and Bear in the Big Blue House all bring a rush of nostalgia which is so rewarding. All of these gems are frequently referenced because of how quality the shows and films were.

When I look back at the 90's, I can't help but see them as years of innocence and simplicity. Now that we are in 2016 after the recession, explosion of technology, and 9/11 it makes me want to go back and revisit what we left in the past. The 90's will always be one of the best decades of all time in my heart and many other's. Dust off the old VHS and re-watch your favorite 90's movie and you'll know what I'm talking about.