" How old would you be if you didn't know how old you were?" Satchel Paige
"Disillusion is the last illusion." Wallace Stevens
". . . But I was so much older then; I'm younger than that now."
The Byrds
As the years pass, we become refugees from our pop-culture era while it recedes along with our hairline.
All that made us hip, all that we shared: the music, clothes and slang, now mark us as passe'. We have become as irrelevant as grandpa's vinyl Big Band records.
Remaining interested in current youth culture exposes us to the charge of Peter Pan-ism, unless we can develop, retain, and nurture a genuineness which, like a magical lodestone, instantly transcends any temporal or cultural divide.
Then, a space exists for healthy sharing between generations, or even healthy mentor-ship.
Note: They told us that marijuana would harm our brains, but scientists now believe that it's active ingredient may reduce brain-damaging inflammation that accompanies Alzheimer's disease.
A L O H A, Cloudia
I never really understood the term popular culture...are those code words for herd mentality? Is the lemming that refuses to go over the cliff guilty of something? Not having wings perhaps?
ReplyDeleteAwww...it's my old '65 VW bus, Buster Blue Bus...he was navy with the white v-shape in front, and it never got Alzheimer's! Wish I'd kept my peace emblem, hip huggers and wide belt made from skydiving / parachute straps. My kid would pay me big bucks for such genuine items. DrumMajor
ReplyDelete"they" told us a lot of things. Not all of it wrong, but enough.
ReplyDeleteAloha, Cloudia.
Ahh the generation gap. Sometimes it looks larger than it is. I hear there actually thinking about legalizing MJ, the tax benefits to the government are quite large. For some reason, I doubt it will ever happen.
ReplyDeletethat was a lovely post! thoughtful yes and i loved the 1st pic and the 1st quote and your last statement!!
ReplyDeleteThe trouble with marijuana is that it forces the people around you to breathe in the smoke -- whether or not they want to.
ReplyDeleteGimmee a beer any day.
turn, turn, turn...
ReplyDeleteI've tried marijuana, don't like it at all! It makes me cough :)
I like the idea of not knowing how old I am. How old would I be, indeed? I've never been one to "act my age."
ReplyDeletePeace - D
I've never found that youth wants "any" mentorship from the older generations when it comes to youth culture. They may take mentorship on how to get a job, but stay out of their culture.
ReplyDeleteHo-lee, are those your stubs? I wasn't there, and don't believe I've ever seen the actual tickets! Cool. As a child of the 60s, I treasure all the old memories and music. Pop culture of any era interests me, though.
ReplyDeleteWalking Man: You are a one man movement!
ReplyDeleteDrum Major: I knew you were cool, man! We still are; let's MARCH!
Grandpa: An interesting remark, Sir.
Eric: Perhaps as more Dinosaurs pass...
Magic Eye: Your visits are cherished. Namaste.
Gigi: Suck `um up, wahine! (Hawaii slang for: "have a beer.")
Gran: Make brownies, LOL!
RiverPoet: Thanks for taking a break from your studies today! You stike me as young at heart. You wil be a comfort to elderly and their families.
Charles: I think many of them are surprisingly amenable to us "cool" older folks who don't ape them, but who share our hard earned life wisdom gently. You may be surprised to learn the esteem your students actually hold you in.
Deborah: YUP! I was very young, and when you got there you didn;t need no stinkin` tickets!
Aloha Friends!!!
Charles, I know quite a few young folks who don't fit this - but they are homeschooled. Despite a strong peer group, family has played a larger role. My daughters both have multiple adult mentors who they admire and respect.
ReplyDeleteAs for MJ, never tried it, never will. Don't like smoking anything. Don't like the smell. But then, I have the occasional glass of wine, so who am I to say?
I so want to be in the first photo.
Nice post Cloudia....I think I'd be 9 :)
ReplyDeletea woodstock ticket could easily make someone feel old, i suppose
ReplyDeletehow about a walking stick?
Marijuana helps Alzheimers? No kidding? Hmmmm....
ReplyDeleteWhen I was young I hated going to the rock concerts where I couldn't hear the words for the noise, and feeling sick from the strobe lights. After awhile I refused to go and went somewhere else.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the walking man who puts it so eloquently.