1970

1970. That’s the year I graduated from high school. What a wonderful time to be an adolescent! The last half of the sixties. I guess every generation probably says the same thing about their generation. I know my siblings were teens in the 50s and that generation sure had its pluses. Remember the movie American Graffiti? That was the fifties.

My adolescent years were filled with wonderful music. The music then seemed so much more varied and creative then the music of today. May be it was the drugs. Emma, who usually gets to choose the music when we drive, often asks me if I like the song that’s playing. Sometimes I do. But often I think that sounds just like the last one!

My teen years had some interesting fashion choices too. Bell bottoms, of course! But paisleys and madras plaids. It was definitely more casual and more colorful than what came  before. Matching didn’t seem to matter much either.

Probably the best thing about those times is the whole change in attitude. The optimism. The thought that even at our age we could change things for the better.  And we did! Teens and college students helped push forward the civil rights movement and the women’s’ rights movements. We helped end a war! Teens were active in the political discourse of the times. We realized that politics, in spite of what everyone thinks about it, affects our daily life.  Protest was a daily activity on many levels.

Why am I nostalgic today? Last night I watched the Martin Scorsese film ” George Harrison: Living in a Material World”.  It was wonderful. Long, at 3 and a half hours, but wonderful nonetheless.  I have a better appreciation of George today. I always liked him , but he was the quiet Beatle, usually taking a back seat to John and Paul. But, wow!, what a life he lived. He enjoyed all aspects of living in a material world, but knew it all meant nothing compared to his spirituality and his Hindu beliefs.  He died of cancer, way too early, but left behind so many friends and admirers. His wife said that, at the moment of death, there was an aura of light in the room.

I plan on finding a good biography on George today.  I can see modeling the rest of my  life after his. If I can accomplish even part of that I would be happy. Here’s a nice lyric from George to end this post: Give me love, give me love, give me peace on Earth.