My contribution to throwback Thursday. May 18th, 1980. Me and my buddies are camping in the back country behind Golden Ears. We hear and feel this apocalyptic sound. I figured the nuclear annihilation we grew up believing would be inevitable, was indeed, upon us. It wasnt. Mt. St. Helens had caused her own mini apocalypse. Such were the eighties. Those old enough (and it looks like fb is becoming the domain of us fogies), will remember the doomsday clock, the AIDS epidemic and the vitriol directed toward the gay community, the invasion of Afghanistan by the USSR and the covert invasion of Central America by the USA. Tense times. Nevertheless we also had a blast. Sure the pastels, the mullets, the vibrant colours, the plaid, the golf shirts with collars up, the bolos, and of course the shoulder pads get giggles from our offspring but back-in-the-day they helped us move and groove in our own unique dancing styles. I have reflected on a Bryan Adams song -- Cuts Like a Knife. A solid arena rock rouser for sure, indicative of top 40 rock radio. The line cuts like a knife has become a metaphor for growing up for me. We were optimistic and full of life but that same life would cut us again, again and again. Im okay with scar tissue. In fact when I look at my peers, those guys who almost saw me poop my pants on May 18th, 1980, I see survivors. Actually I see more than survivors I see contributors who have gone through their own challenges and along with their significant others have created wonderful human beings who are more tolerant and accepting than we ever were. Yeah, Im one of the fools who think the kids are all right (they drive me crazy sometimes, okay lots of times, and for certain will have their own generational challenges), but they will do just fine. I reworked this song with mandolin and guitar and added video images from the eighties to try and tell a story of how we have come through and frankly are, for the most part, doing just fine thank you very much. I have used iconic and not-so-iconic images from our youth. Its funny how as you get older your definition of youth changes. To me, now, our early twenties were are youth. This coming from a guy who was married when he was twenty-one. I hope you enjoy the throwback images and get a kick out of the cheezy ads. https://youtube/watch?v=aM9nsB2IFYQ
Posted on: Thu, 16 Oct 2014 05:38:15 +0000
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