I recently went to Blake Shelton’s Honky Tonk concert in Columbus, Ohio. It was AWESOME! The music was so loud you could feel your heart beating. The revolving spotlights that lit up the 20,000 people packed into the Nationwide Arena brought color into a lot of lives that night. From the moment the country western star stepped on to the stage in front of that huge video screen, the crowd jumped to their feet and started moving to the sounds and stories of hillbilly music.
I didn’t think it could get any better than that until the mega star shouted, “Now, I’m going to take you back to the past.” I winked at my husband and thought of those times we danced cheek to cheek to The Four Seasons, The Supremes, Elvis Presley, Paul Anka, The Shirelles, Bobby Vinton, Ricky Nelson, Franke Avalon and The Drifters — back in the 1960’s — when things were black and white…
Then Shelton screamed, “We’re going ALL THE WAY BACK ——> to 2001. “
What? 2001?
Ha! I forgot that his past and mine were slightly different.
Reminds me of the time I was trying to explain the term Frame of Reference to one of my speech classes. I wanted them to understand that people communicate from different life experiences. (To be honest, I was also trying to show them I had MUCH MORE experience in life than they did. Ha!)
Although there are many demographic factors like gender, religion, ethnic background, class, sexual orientation, occupation, education, group membership that influence communication, research shows AGE is the MAJOR factor. So…
I drew a long line on the blackboard similar to a Likert Scale to demonstrate my point. I divided the line into intervals labeling them 0, 20, 40, 60, 80 and told the students this illustrated a person’s Life Line -- with 80 being the average life expectancy in the USA. Then with a dramatic flair I put an X where they were on the Life Line, and then with an even bigger flair I put an X where I was.
With a satisfied grin on my face, I proudly turned around and asked if they got my point. And a kid from the back of the room yelled, “Yeah, you don’t have a lot longer to go. ”
Well, he had a good point there. I’m still laughing about it… Your view definitely depends on where you’re sitting – on the line.
You know what? That could be a great country western song. What do you think, Blake?
It’ll Be OK.
~~~
“Fog is just clouds that fell down. “ ~ Dylan, age 6
COMMENT: What’s one thing you think you see differently because of your age?
Glad you enjoyed Blake even if he is a "youngster" - haha! Now that I hit medicare age my kids are wanting to spend more time with us like they think we might not be here much longer. They could be right I guess! I see obligation differently. I don't feel obligated to do some things I used to feel I had to do. Now I hear myself saying, "I'm old, I don't have to do that if I don't want to." 😂
Good Morning! Oh my, the ole time line of life! I am understanding more and more what Mom was saying to us about changes as we age. Boy, was she spot on!! Aches and pains, forgetfulness, weaker (opening a darn jar or wonderful bottle of wine! ) and the big one for this gal, Quoting Mom, "the saggy baggy skin!!" There are a few others I won't write about, HA!! I tell my girls, enjoy your youth, REALLY, enjoy your youth. All that said, I am grateful for my health, quit smoking 6 years ago, every day. Thank you for your post Jan, enjoyed, as always .