Favorites by Decade*

*I'm limiting myself to three per category per decade. Which is difficult.

My Favorites by Decade- J.J. Johnson, Author
Age 5, with my first bike, "Sweet Thunder"

Childhood (1970s)

Books
  • George and Martha, James Marshall
  • Alan Mendelsohn, The Boy from Mars, Daniel Pinkwater
  • Little House series, Laura Ingalls Wilder

Music
  • Grease Motion Picture Soundtrack
  • Thriller, Michael Jackson
  • Purple Rain, Prince

Movies and TV
  • Star Wars Episodes IV - VI
  • Little House on the Prairie
  • Fame

Signature Accessories
  • Snoopy Sleeping Bag (for sleepovers)
  • Roller Skates
  • Friendship Pins

Activities
  • Dance
  • Riding Bikes
  • Backyard Creek Exploration

J.J. Johnson, Author ::
When phones had cords and watches were Swatches

Teen years (1980s)

Books 
  • One, Richard Bach
  • Flowers for Algernon, Daniel Keyes
  • Annie on my Mind, Nancy Garden

Music
  • The Queen is Dead, The Smiths
  • Never Die Young, James Taylor
  • Sign O' the Times, Prince

Movies and TV 
  • Sixteen Candles
  • Star Wars Episodes IV - VI
  • Footloose

Signature Accessories
  • Guess Jeans (ankle zip)
  • Pazazz Mousse
  • Cherry Chapstick

Activities
  • Dance
  • Drawing and Painting
  • Alpine Skiing
J.J. Johnson, Author ::
Star Wars exhibit at the Smithsonian, age 24

Twenties (1990s)

Books
  • The Poisonwood Bible, Barbara Kingsolver
  • Circles on the Water, Marge Piercy
  • His Dark Materials series, Philip Pullman

Music
  • Out of Range, Ani DiFranco
  • Little Earthquakes, Tori Amos
  • Friendly Fa$cism, Consolidated

Movies and TV
  • Buffy the Vampire Slayer / The X Files (tie)
  • Friends
  • Star Wars Episodes IV - VI

Signature Accessories
  • Reusable Mug
  • Backpack with Anti-War Buttons
  • Platform Combat Boots

Activities
  • Modern Dance
  • Grassroots Activism
  • Hiking
J.J. Johnson, Author ::
On a trampoline in Tasmania, age 36

Thirties (2000s)

Books 
  • Tomorrow, When the War Began, John Marsden
  • The Omnivore’s Dilemma, Michael Pollen
  • A Pattern Language, Christopher Alexander, et. al.

Music
  • Wildflowers, Tom Petty
  • The Swell Season, The Swell Season
  • Graceland, Paul Simon

Movies and TV
  • Star Wars Episodes IV - VI (are you noticing a trend?)
  • Once
  • Friday Night Lights (the tv show)

Signature Accessories
  • Canvas Tote Bag (doubling as diaper bag, purse, computer bag, etc.)
  • Burt's Bees Lip Balm
  • Yoga Mat

Activities 
  • Dance Parties
  • Travel
  • Hiking
J.J. Johnson, Author ::
Franz Josef glacier, New Zealand, age 40

Forties... so far
(For the record, I'm 44)

Books 
  • The Goldfinch, Donna Tartt
  • On the Road, Jack Kerouac
  • Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racism in America, Ibram X. Kendi

Music - To be perfectly honest, I'm listening to podcasts more than music. My favorite podcasts:
  • Slate Political Gabfest
  • The Dead Authors Podcast
  • Vox's The Weeds

Movies and TV
  • Veep
  • Star Wars Episodes IV - VI
  • Breaking Bad

Signature Accessories
  • Homemade Jewelry
  • MacBook
  • Thrift Store Jeans

Activities 
  • More Dance Parties
  • More Travel
  • More Yoga