The future is no place to place your better days.

Dave Matthews Band, "Cry Freedom"

Dateline: 1985.  1:15 am.  Twin Pines Mall.  Marty McFly, in a panic because the Libyans are trying to shoot him, climbs into the drivers seat of a stainless steel DeLorean.  The builder of this awesomeness, Dr. Emmitt Brown is dead on the ground.  He outruns the Libyans (of course he does--they're driving a van), accelerates to 88, the flux capacitor engages, and boom! Back to 1955!  

(Hill Valley's downtown was patterned after Andalusia's court square, according to Dell Trotter. )

You know the rest.  Marty McFly meets his parents, and hilarity ensues....

Man has been fascinated with the idea of time travel for decades.  I mean, Stargate! Hello!? I've seen all three of the BTTF films and I love them all.  I remember seeing a DeLorean once in a parking lot in Enterprise.  As I recall, Kevin Harp was with me.  Seeing that car in person, both there and on display at Universal Studios in Orlando, only furthered my own love of the film and of course, with the idea of time travel.  

If you could go back in time would you do it??

What would you tell your teenage self?

Good grief, what a question.  

Here are some things I would tell my teenage self, if I could. (in brainstorm order)

1.  Slow down going down Rabren Road when it's wet, you moron.  

2.  If you had tried just a little bit harder in that science class, you'd have made an A.

3.  Yo...you had a crush on her for years...she will go out with you if you just ask her.  

4.  Don't lie to your mom.  It takes a long time to get that trust back.

5.  Stop worrying so much about what other people think about you.  

6.  It's no one's fault that your dad died when you were 4.  Not even your own.

7.  Think twice before you do this or that.  People will still remember how you treated them years from now.

8.  Don't quit that job. It'll get better after you get trained properly.

9.  Don't take shortcuts.

10.  Treat your brother and sister better.  

11.  If you don't have time to do it right, when will you have to do it again?

12.  For the love of God, do not shoot that water balloon at the LBW tennis team from 200 yards away with a water balloon slingshot.  You could have seriously hurt someone.  

13.  Please put down the anger.

14.  Learn to be completely ok with who you are.  

15.  Be more of an includer.

16.  Speak up for those who don't have a say.

17.  Don't worry so much about trivial stuff.  Life is the great equalizer, as you will see at your 20th reunion.

18.  Everyone is struggling with something.  None of your friends have perfect lives, contrary to what you may think.

19.  It's easier to stay in shape than to get in shape. 

20.  The next 30 years are going to pass no matter how much or how little you do.  Don't look back in regret.
21. She will go out with you if you ask her.  (Did I say that already? hahaha)