The List - 15 Really Important Things I Have Learned From Watching ‘Dawson’s Creek’ So Far

For the past six weeks, in honor of the 15th anniversary of locally filmed teen drama "Dawson's Creek," I have been watching season one for the very first time and recapping the episodes on the WilmOnFilm blog. By day, I’m the StarNews environment and health reporter, but by night (and by day too, and morning, and really all the time), I am the StarNews snark expert, which is, as far as I can tell, the main qualification for the Dawson’s blogging gig. Feel free to follow along at www.StarNewsOnline.com/UpThe Creek or get the Reader's Digest version here with this list of 15 Really Important Things I Have Learned From Watching "Dawson’s Creek" So Far.

1. You don't need to have screens in your windows. There are zero bugs in Wilmington, for real, and if you have screens it makes it very difficult for people to climb in and out of your windows, which is a normal and acceptable way to visit your neighbors.

2. Puberty is really serious business and should be discussed frequently and at length.

3. Even if it is possible to take a car to visit your friends, you are better off taking a rowboat.

4. When life hands you a serious problem, you should immediately head to the nearest public bench and sit , with a pensive look on your face, until the answer comes to you. Or until you are ready to go yell at someone else about it. Either is fine.

5. It is perfectly acceptable for grown men to spend all of their free time playing with toys.

6. When having an illicit affair, it's important to do a lot of canoodling in the hallway at work, in the driveway in front of the house you share with your husband and on the phone 10 feet away from your teenage son.

7. If that affair goes public, the first person you should discuss it with is your teenage son's best friend.

8. If someone in a position of authority tells you that you can't do something – join a film class reserved for upperclassmen, for example – just keep asking repeatedly until they give in. If that doesn't work, just start coming to class anyway. There will be zero repercussions for any of this. You will always just get what you want.

9. Teachers are always going to have hideously decorated houses. They will also, inexplicably, be able to afford beachfront property.

10. Tube socks always get the girl.

11. If possible, film your entire life. It's OK if you need to hide cameras to do it. People will get mad about it sometimes, but who even cares because the footage will be fantastic!

12. Eavesdropping is an acceptable way of learning information. Since you're climbing in and out of people's windows all the time anyway, you might as well get some gossip.

13. Overalls are a fashion DO.

14. No matter what, y’all, everything is about Joey Potter. Having a baby and in pain? That's about Joey. Word got out about your super-secret affair with your teacher? That's about Joey. Just found out your mom's having an affair with her coworker? Sorry, but that's totally about Joey too.

15. The opening credits were so right. I don't want to wait for our lives to be over. I want to know, right now, what will it be?