It's Only Teenage Wasteland

Oh. Em. Gee. Tavi Gevinson. The Style Rookie. Too much awesomeness for complete sentences.

Girlfriend is 14 years old. She just graduated middle school, about which she wrote this:

As for me, I learned about a few financially secure men who wisely keep some of their money saved in the bank. I considered Jay Sean's inquiry of whether or not I was "down." But mostly I put away my unreasonable cynicism and insecurities -- that having fun with my peers would mean contradicting my "non-conformist" attitude, hairy legs, granny glasses, and big, fat, pimple. I danced and enjoyed myself and realized that not being the conductor of a grind train doesn't mean that I have to be a wallflower, and then realizing that any labels are stupid, and that I shouldn't make my dress look ugly because I didn't feel "different" enough, and that I shouldn't buy a Daniel Johnston record because Kurt Cobain wore the shirt to the VMA's, and that I can listen to him and enjoy a little Beyonce on the lunchroom dance floor, and that I would really rather everyone just be themselves. And then I was happy because it seemed like everyone was just being themselves. Normally passive-aggressive, catty types seemed sincere when they said they liked my eye makeup. The Dudeliest of Dudes grinded with the girls that hadn't considered a hair straightener or spritz of perfume for the night, maybe because...what's the big deal? I think everyone was just into the music, and into doing what they wanted, and was trying not be dramatic and shut other people out, and to appreciate one another, and to appreciate the small size and community qualities of our grade that we won't have when we enter high school in a few months. Holy shit, a FEW MONTHS. Anyway, that's that.

And about Gaga she wrote that. And her blag is filled with Freaks and Geeks references. Fucking incredible right? She's so ME at 14, but so much cooler and smarter and better dressed. I just want to go back in time and enter high school with her. Eat popcorn and watch Daria with her. Peruse thrift shops and support local bands and drink gallons of coffee at Denny's with her.

Uh oh. That sounds dangerously like "that girl." The one who wears thick framed glasses for the look of them and listens to bands that don't even exist yet. The hipster for the sake of hipness. I hate that girl. I pray to the blag gods that Miss Gevinson maintains her originality through her high school years and embraces the wasteland for what it can be, rather than what it's supposed to be. And then I hope she goes to a university that is way more diverse than mine, so she doesn't get called a hippie simply for having a Bob Dylan poster on the wall of her dorm room, but also that she doesn't get too sucked into the counter culture that she goes vegan or starts protesting football games.

Stay away from the theater majors, Tavi! And the boys who wear girl jeans! Go to keg parties! Listen to country! You can still listen to Dar Williams too, it's OK. Sometimes I paint while watching Jersey Shore. It's all good. Except for Twilight. Twilight is bad, but I have a feeling you already know this. I have faith in you, sistafriend. My So Called Life was totally pop in its prime, but now is neo-retro and awesome. It's all about balance, girl. Go get em.