What made me happy today?

[GrahamLewis]

IMO, the only people who would miss 1958 all that much are affluent, able-bodied, White Anglo-American Boomer dudes. It wasn't exactly great for everyone else.

My son-in-law, who is the white son of Boomers, uses that same tone when referring to Baby Boomers. Being a WASP and a Boomer is a category, not a choice. I have often said that I feel privileged to have grown up middle-class (albeit lower-middle) in the mid-20th century in middle America. From now on I will add white as well. I am relatively able-bodied for 75, not affluent. In 1958 my family owned a small 3-bedroom home, no garage, one car, in a small town. We never went hungry, but there was not much of a fiscal cushion. I nearly died from rheumatic fever.

Still, I unapologetically miss those times. Sorry if that bothers you Brandon.

 

[Rath Darkblade]

I'm finally under 10k on my student loans

Neat. I got rid of my student loans a few years ago.

Noice! Got a mortgage? I've only got 24 years left!

I have one, but I only have 2-3 years to go. (I started mine back in 2005 or thereabouts, but I'm only paying for a 2-bedroom apartment).

 

[Louanne Learning]

Just got back from spending a few days with my sister and her family, and the “Cornwall cousins.” Six teenage boys. Fantastic young men. They humour me and are crazy about my 92-year-old mother (who happened to win the Euchre tournament with a 15-year-old as her partner). These kids are the future and if it’s any indication the future is in good hands.

Lol, I bring up philosophical questions with them and their eyes widen and they offer their opinions, and it does my heart proud with the young wisdom they share. We also laugh non-stop.

 

[GrahamLewis]

My son-in-law, who is the white son of Boomers, uses that same tone when referring to Baby Boomers. Being a WASP and a Boomer is a category, not a choice. I have often said that I feel privileged to have grown up middle-class (albeit lower-middle) in the mid-20th century in middle America. From now on I will add white as well. I am relatively able-bodied for 75, not affluent. In 1958 my family owned a small 3-bedroom home, no garage, one car, in a small town. We never went hungry, but there was not much of a fiscal cushion. I nearly died from rheumatic fever.

Still, I unapologetically miss those times. Sorry if that bothers you Brandon.

And stay off my lawn! End of rant.

 

[Amontillado]

Today I realized I must have picked up something of the flower-power summer of love back in '69. Sure, I'm crass, my table manners might make Archie Bunker blush, and I would look silly with petunias in my hair. Still, somehow, I must be a child of nature. This makes me want skip around Maypoles in Elysian fields.

A lifelong friend now lives in Montana and sent a wonderful cuddly picture of an ermine. As it turns out, the National Park Service says they are a little like sea shells.

I'll let you know if it's true. If I see one of the adorable little fellows here in Central Texas, I'll try this out.

 

[CatrionaGrace]

If you cross Wyoming on your way to Montana, I'll introduce you to a bear and you can dance with it to THIS TUNE.

 

[THUNDAIR]

My hemoglobin count went up to 6.4, so I'll live another day. I've been out of the hospital for a couple of days now hoping for the best. The wife is still in hospice at home so ther's that. Hardly anyone plans their exit.

 

[Rad Scribbler]

My hemoglobin count went up to 6.4, so I'll live another day. Been out of the hospital for a couple of days now hoping for the best. The wife is still in hospice at home so ther's that. Hardly anyone plans their exit.

Get well soon, Thundair. Best wishes to your wife.

 

[Rath Darkblade]

If you cross Wyoming on your way to Montana, I'll introduce you to a bear and you can dance with it to THIS TUNE.

No, thank you. I'd rather not dance with bears to any tune.

 

[Amontillado]

If you cross Wyoming on your way to Montana, I'll introduce you to a bear and you can dance with it to THIS TUNE.

That really did make me happy. Gordon Bok is a treasure. My favorite, Right, Said Fred.

"I get a sort of feeling, if we remove the ceiling..."

 

[CatrionaGrace]

I missed my chance to see Bok, Muir, and Trickett in concert in Boulder about forty years ago because of a big damn blizzard that blew up in the 300 miles between my place and Boulder. Always regretted it, but I'd have regretted dying somewhere on I-25 more.

 

[Amontillado]

Kallet and Bok would be a great act, too. Everything on their Neighbors album is just the thing to play quietly on a still evening, camp cruising on a small sailboat. I clearly remember testing that theory a few times.

The song Janko is amazing. The story is depressing but the melody is uplifting. Imagine a lullaby in a language you can't understand, like a Grimm's tale set to music.

There are aspects of the musical construction I find intoxicating for such an innocent folk song. The way the melody ends phrases on the third scale degree carries motion forward and there is also unusual rhythmic suspension.

It's clearly in 4/4 time, or so you would think. Four bars are a walk in 4/4, emphasis on the first beat in each bar. The sixth measure, where the melody cadences on the third scale degree, is 6/4. Most creative.

 

[Night Herald]

Met some beautiful new people to party with, and reckon at least one of them is a new friend I've made. It's a bit of an altered state this evening, just very fine vibes. Shame to be wasting them! But at the very moment I felt that it's just perfect. God, I wish I could tell you all about it

 

[CatrionaGrace]

There are aspects of the musical construction I find intoxicating for such an innocent folk song. The way the melody ends phrases on the third scale degree carries motion forward and there is also unusual rhythmic suspension.

It's clearly in 4/4 time, or so you would think. Four bars are a walk in 4/4, emphasis on the first beat in each bar. The sixth measure, where the melody cadences on the third scale degree, is 6/4. Most creative.

Sweetie, you must think you're talking to Homer. I can sing it back to you, and I can hear what's happening in the song, but classically trained musician terms fall on my numb, if not completely deaf, ears. Even so, I'm flattered to think you think I might understand.

 

[Amontillado]

Sweetie, you must think you're talking to Homer. I can sing it back to you, and I can hear what's happening in the song, but classically trained musician terms fall on my numb, if not completely deaf, ears. Even so, I'm flattered to think you think I might understand.

It sounds like you have the gift of music appreciation. That's what brings the magic.