Taking a big step backward

So we've fallen back to where we were two decades ago, the Federal Reserve said this week. The median U.S. family's net worth plummeted 39.4 percent from 2007 to 2010, down to $77,300, about where it was in 1992.

But before looking for a ledge from which to leap, we should pause and remind ourselves that in the early 1990s, we were livin' large in a lot of ways.

With a hat tip to David Letterman, here are 10 things that were phat during that era:

10 The Twins were kickin' it, capturing their second World Series title in five years.

9 It was cheap to dress fashionably, with grunge all the rage.

8 We had a lot more free time, before e-mail, Facebook, Pinterest, etc.

7 Cellphones were da bomb, and some newer ones didn't look like bricks.

5 "Twin Peaks," "Seinfeld," "Northern Exposure" and "Ren & Stimpy" were revolutionizing TV. (Too bad reality TV came along.)

4 America's largest mall opened in our back yard.

3 Baggy jeans were in style, and they were worn above the butt crack.

2 David Letterman was still hip.

And the No. 1 thing about the early '90s:

The 1980s were over!