Here's a meditation I've been having:
Think of the year 1970.
What were you doing in 1970?
For me, I was on top of the world, young, arrogant, and life was full of promise.
My every excess and screw up seemed like a joke that was easily corrected,
and health seemed boundless and abundant. I was 18, rejecting my middle class upbringing,
in a time of unparalleled economic security and prosperity, despite the Vietnam adventure.
In 1970, what did you think of someone who was born in 1900?
Did you think turn to them for advice about practical or emotional issues?
Were you even aware of them being in your neighborhood?
Consider - their 18th year in 1918 was equidistant from 1970 as 2022 is from 1970.
I'd imagine most young folks think I'm as irrelevant as I thought of folks born in 1900.
What useful advice or experience do I have for them?
Yeah, I think I'm full of "wisdom" but I don't recall any of 'em asking for my input.
Now get off my lawn you rascals, can't you see I'm trying to read the obituaries!
Think of the year 1970.
What were you doing in 1970?
For me, I was on top of the world, young, arrogant, and life was full of promise.
My every excess and screw up seemed like a joke that was easily corrected,
and health seemed boundless and abundant. I was 18, rejecting my middle class upbringing,
in a time of unparalleled economic security and prosperity, despite the Vietnam adventure.
In 1970, what did you think of someone who was born in 1900?
Did you think turn to them for advice about practical or emotional issues?
Were you even aware of them being in your neighborhood?
Consider - their 18th year in 1918 was equidistant from 1970 as 2022 is from 1970.
I'd imagine most young folks think I'm as irrelevant as I thought of folks born in 1900.
What useful advice or experience do I have for them?
Yeah, I think I'm full of "wisdom" but I don't recall any of 'em asking for my input.
Now get off my lawn you rascals, can't you see I'm trying to read the obituaries!